Private search engine DuckDuckGo is taking a significant leap into the realm of generative AI, announcing the exit of its AI chatbot, Duck.ai, from beta. The service, now simply called Duck.ai, allows users to tap into AI models developed by leading providers like Anthropic, OpenAI, and Meta via a conversational interface.

Unlike traditional search engines, Duck.ai provides AI-generated answers to search queries, rather than a list of hyperlinks. The company has expanded the models available to users, including recent additions like OpenAI's o3-mini, Meta's Llama 3.3, and Mistral's Small 3. While access to Duck.ai is currently free, users are subject to a daily limit on queries, with the company exploring a paid plan for access to higher limits and more advanced chat models.

In addition to its AI chatbot, DuckDuckGo is also integrating generative AI into its conventional search engine interface. The company now serves millions of AI-assisted answers daily, with users able to choose the frequency of AI-generated answers in their search results. This emphasis on user agency is a key differentiator for DuckDuckGo, as users can opt to show AI-assisted answers "sometimes," "often," "on-demand," or "never."

DuckDuckGo's move into AI-powered search is a response to the shifting landscape of digital business, where GenAI has become a major player. Search giant Google has been rapidly adopting generative AI, embedding responses from its own AI models into search results and even experimenting with ditching links entirely in favor of AI summaries. DuckDuckGo is positioning itself as a privacy-focused alternative, offering users access to major GenAI tools without requiring them to sign up for an account with an AI giant.

The company's privacy policy emphasizes that chats are anonymized via proxying and never used for AI model training. While users' search queries may include personal data, DuckDuckGo notes that this information is not tied back to their digital identity. The company also allows users to easily switch between its conventional search engine interface and AI chat, making it easy to integrate GenAI into their search workflows.

DuckDuckGo has also introduced several features to enhance the user experience, including a "Recent Chats" feature that stores conversations locally on the user's device. Users can opt to disable this feature if they prefer, and the company ensures that chats are not used for AI training and are deleted within 30 days.

As the search landscape continues to evolve, DuckDuckGo's emphasis on privacy and user agency sets it apart from its competitors. By offering users a range of options for integrating GenAI into their search experience, the company is poised to attract users who value both innovation and control over their online interactions.