News
DuckDuckGo makes its ‘no-AI’ search engine easier to access as its traffic booms
As its traffic continues to climb, alternative search engine DuckDuckGo is leaning into anti-AI sentiment with the launch of new browser extensions that allow users to set its no-AI search experience, noai.duckduckgo.com, as their default search engine.
Once enabled, users will be directed to DuckDuckGo’s AI-free search page, where there are no AI-assisted answers, no chat prompts, and fewer AI images in the search results, the company claims. The extensions are currently available for Chrome and Firefox users. Meanwhile, people who have switched to the DuckDuckGo web browser already have their AI settings preserved, even if they clear their browser history.
The company says the extensions are meant to help people have a consistent AI-free search experience — something that’s harder to come by these days, especially after Google announced its AI-first revamp of its search engine at its developer conference earlier in May.
Since then, traffic to DuckDuckGo has been booming. Last week, the company noted that web visits to its no-AI search page were up nearly 30% week-over-week, and its U.S. app installs were also up 18.1% week-over-week, with U.S. iOS app installs peaking at 69.9% week-over-week growth.
Those trends followed news that Google was overhauling its search box in the biggest change to its search engine in more than 25 years. Now, instead of returning links at the top of the page, Google will favor sending users into AI-generated search overviews, which are becoming more interactive experiences capable of creating visualizations, charts, graphs, or even mini apps, as needed. Follow-up questions from AI Overviews will push users into an AI Mode chat experience. The traditional “10 blue links” that defined Google in its earlier days are more of an afterthought, appearing below all this AI-fueled productivity.
But not everyone is on board with having AI made the default, which is why some are making the move to alternative search engines like DuckDuckGo, Kagi, and others.
DuckDuckGo says traffic to its no-AI search page was up threefold on Thursday, May 28, 2026 — a new high-water mark since Google’s search announcement — and the numbers are still climbing. The growth is not coming in spurts either, the company points out. Instead, visits are averaging roughly 84% above the baseline, suggesting a more sustained shift.
In addition to the new “no AI” search Chrome and Firefox extensions, DuckDuckGo will soon update its original DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera to offer controls for AI search settings, as well.
It’s worth noting that DuckDuckGo isn’t an anti-AI company. The company still offers its own AI chatbot with access to many popular models, and a subscription plan that provides access to the latest models and other tools, like a VPN service, identity theft restoration, and personal information removal services.
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Nigerian sprint star Rosemary Chukwuma has expressed her satisfaction with her continued development after claiming two individual silver medals at the African Championships, while maintaining her position as Africa’s fastest woman of the season in both the 100m and 200m events.
READ ALSO: Nigeria’s University Sports System Needs Comprehensive Overhaul – Olabanji Oyebusi
Sports247 reports that Chukwuma has enjoyed an impressive campaign, recording season-best performances of 10.95 seconds in the 100m and 22.45 seconds in the 200m.
Those times currently stand as the fastest by any African woman this year, further highlighting her growing status among the continent’s elite sprinters.
Speaking after her medal-winning performances at the championships, the Nigerian reflected on her journey since turning professional two years ago and acknowledged the role her coach has played in her development.
“I am excited and happy. I won’t say I am disappointed. After turning professional two years ago, I need to thank my coach,” Chukwuma said.
The sprinter specifically credited renowned coach Dennis Shaver for helping her transition successfully into the professional ranks.
Since making the move from collegiate athletics, Chukwuma has continued to improve technically and physically, becoming one of Nigeria’s most reliable performers on the international stage.
Her performances at the African Championships demonstrated both consistency and competitiveness, earning her podium finishes against some of the continent’s top athletes.
While gold medals may have narrowly escaped her, the silver-medal haul and season-leading times underline the progress she has made.
Chukwuma’s achievements this season are particularly significant as she continues to build momentum ahead of future international competitions.
Her ability to consistently produce world-class times has placed her among the leading African contenders in the sprint events.
The former collegiate standout remains one of Nigeria’s brightest athletics prospects, and her latest performances suggest there is still room for further improvement.
With the guidance of Coach Shaver and increasing experience at the highest level, Chukwuma appears poised for even greater success in the coming years.
For now, the Nigerian sprinter can take pride in a season that has seen her remain Africa’s fastest woman over both sprint distances while adding two continental silver medals to her growing collection of achievements.
Nigerian stocks reported a modest gain last week, appreciating by 0.3 per cent as the market only ran limited trading sessions on account of the public holidays commemorating Eid el Adha celebrations.
The advance was largely driven by increased demand for oil and gas stocks.
The main equity index has returned 60.9 per cent year to date, with just five months gone in 2026.
“From a technical standpoint, the market’s 10-day RSI moderated further to 71.47pts (vs. 78.93pts in the prior week), indicating that while the market remains in overbought territory, momentum has continued to ease, thereby reducing the intensity of previous overheating concerns and creates room for fresh buying interest to emerge,” said analysts at Meristem Securities in their outlook for the week.
PREMIUM TIMES has assembled some stocks with sound fundamentals, adopting rigorous approaches to save you the risk of picking equities at random for investment.
The pick, a product of an analytical market watch, offers a guide to entering the market and taking strategic positions, with the expectation that selected stocks will record reasonable price appreciation with the passage of time.
This is not a buy, sell or hold recommendation but a stock investment guide. You may need to involve your financial advisor before taking investment decisions.
Sterling Bank
Sterling Bank tops this week’s pick on the basis of its strong fundamentals and for trading below its intrinsic value. The financial institution’s net profit ratio (NPR) is 16.4 per cent, while the price-to-earnings (PE) ratio is 5.1x. Its RSI is 53.4.
Coronation Insurance
Coronation Insurance makes the selection by virtue of its strong fundamentals. The NPR of the underwriter is 9.2 per cent, while the PE ratio is 9x. Its relative strength index (RSI) is 49.3.
Nascon Allied Industries
Nascon appears on the pick on the basis of its robust fundamentals. The NPR of the company is 22 per cent, while the PE ratio is 17.7x. The RSI is 66.1.
Aradel Holdings
Aradel makes the selection on the basis of its strong fundamentals. The NPR of the energy firm is 57.5 per cent, while the PE ratio is 21.5x. Its RSI is 67.8.
MTN Nigeria
MTN Nigeria makes the cut by virtue of its strong fundamentals. The NPR of the telco is 23.7x, while the PE ratio is 12.9. The RSI is 53.3.
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