DuckDuckGo, a search engine competing with Google, introduced a new feature called DuckAssist, which uses artificial intelligence to generate natural language responses based on OpenAI technology developed for ChatGPT and anthropomorphic technology invested by Google.
Unlike the AI version of Bing, DuckAssist does not offer chat functionality, focusing instead on providing succinct summaries and responses to user queries, and currently relies on limited research resources such as Wikipedia and Britannica during its trial period.
According to the company, the AI-generated content is designed to answer user questions better than traditional search results or other instant answers. To try the new service, users need to type the type of question that can be answered via Wikipedia into the DuckDuckGo search box. If DuckAssist is able to generate an answer, that answer will be shown above the traditional search results. DuckAssist is free and requires no registration.
The company added that it is committed to providing accurate and relevant search results for a wide variety of topics via DuckAssist, as part of its broader efforts to provide a secure search experience that respects user privacy.
The new feature is currently only available in English in the DuckDuckGo apps for iOS and Android browsers and browser extensions for Firefox, Chrome and Safari. The company plans to roll out the service to all DuckDuckGo search users in the coming weeks. The company's future plans should include adding new sources. Users who wish to prevent DuckAssist from appearing in search results can disable this feature completely.
It should be noted that DuckDuckGo, founded in 2008, is a more privacy-friendly alternative to other engines because DuckDuckGo does not track users' search history or personal information, nor does it share it with other parts of users. The company also offers a number of additional privacy-focused features, including tracking blocking, encryption, and a private browsing mode.
The search engine has grown in popularity since its inception with over 100 million daily searches and is available in more than 60 languages. By introducing DuckAssist, the company hopes to improve the search experience for its users while providing a more private and secure alternative to other search engines.
It should be noted that DuckDuckGo's decision is part of a trend for search engines to support written natural language responses based on generative AI, as last month Microsoft introduced a similar feature powered by ChatGPT technology, and Google announced the integration of its technology with AI (Bard) in its search engine results. .