DuckDuckGo is targeting schools after Google tied access to its search engine to AI features on Tuesday. Google said schools could disable Gemini, but turning off other AI features would require schools to lose Google Search entirely.
DuckDuckGo founder and CEO Gabriel Weinberg posted on X with documentation on how schools can switch to DuckDuckGo, saying "get in touch for help." Chief public affairs officer Kamyl Bazbaz stated, "Forcing AI on school children: how a monopolist behaves when they think people are powerless. Prove Google wrong."
In an email to TechCrunch, DuckDuckGo said Google could easily disable Search's AI features for schools if it chose to. The company noted that Google Search now heavily relies on AI through AI Overviews and a conversational AI Mode.
Google defended its decision after backlash, saying it was responding to schools' requests. The company said Gemini, Gemini Notebook, and Search will be off by default, with schools able to enable them individually.
DuckDuckGo offers its own AI features including Duck.ai and an AI search assistant. Unlike Google, it allows users to disable these features in both search and browser settings. The company also operates noai.duckduckgo.com, where AI-assisted answers, AI-generated images, and feature suggestions are turned off.
The privacy-focused search engine reported earlier this year that app installs were up 30% as users rejected Google's AI Search. Google has around 50 million Chromebooks in schools and serves over 150 million users globally through Google Classroom.