If I want AI, I'll use AI. If I want Search, I want Search. Give me the option. Then again I switched to DDG like, last year.

Oh thank God, I am not the only one here, I mean idk why but I am still not so comfortable with AI mode,and I just need Search, like good old search. I feel this all started when people were saying things like google search is dead or gpt will take over..

Also why is AI mode default?

AI Mode is pretty good. It's quite reliable and much faster than any LLM chatbot.

AI Overviews are pretty bad though.

Feels like google is purposely downgrading non-AI search results

Both can be true. A small number dropping off could be a big boost for DDG.

... DDG had .7% marketshare (https://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share). 28% more visits would take it to .84%. Assuming those all come from Google, that would mean .16% of Google users didn't love AI mode enough to switch.

Classic example of misleading with stats.

Duckduckgo is blocked in my country. Reddit is blocked in my country. My country is also one of first countries agree to ban free (non playstore) android app installation. My country is so against freedom. What a shitty country.

I moved from ddg to Google ai. I find it really awesome

Scrolling that page felt like getting groped and robbed at the same time. So I much flickering, motion, and distraction. And that with adblock on.

As someone who has been driving DDG for the past 6 years, i have switched to Google back due to the new AI mode,, its such a nice quick way to check information and validate ideas.. no friction included.