DuckDuckGo installs are up 30% as users reject being ‘force-fed’ Google’s AI Search

At I/O 2026, Google overhauled Search — blue links out, AI agents in. The backlash has been sharp: DuckDuckGo installs jumped 30 percent as users look for ways to opt out of being force-fed AI answers. For Google it is a clear signal of how polarizing the redesign is — and how quickly alternative engines can benefit from a misstep.