AI-Wary Searchers Might Find Solace in DuckDuckGo's Offerings
In a move to give users more control over their online experience, privacy-focused search engine and web browser DuckDuckGo has introduced a new feature that allows users to filter out AI-generated images from their search results.
The feature, which can be accessed by running a search on DuckDuckGo, going to the images tab, and using the new drop-down menu option titled "AI Images" to toggle AI images on or off, is designed to help users find what they're looking for and to allow them to decide how much AI they want in their search results.
The company's filter uses open-source blocklists, such as those from uBlockOrigin and Huge AI Blocklist, to screen out AI-generated images. However, DuckDuckGo acknowledges that the filter won't remove every AI-generated image but will significantly reduce their presence.
This filter is off by default, so users need to enable it each time or use settings to keep it consistent. For a persistent filtering experience, users can toggle "Hide AI-Generated Images" in their DuckDuckGo search settings or use a dedicated link—noai.duckduckgo.com—which automatically applies this filter along with disabling AI-assisted summaries and chat icons.
DuckDuckGo's goal is to provide a balanced approach to AI, as it also offers several AI features, such as Duck.ai, which lets users access custom versions of popular models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Mistral while keeping their conversations anonymous and untracked. Users can now customize how Duck.ai's models respond, adjusting tone, length, and even the role the model takes when replying.
The proliferation of AI-generated content in search results has been increasing at an exponential rate, leading to debates about whether AI images should be watermarked by default to make them easier to spot. OpenAI is currently testing a watermark feature for AI-generated images in the beta version of ChatGPT's Android app, but the final form and launch of this feature are still uncertain.
DuckDuckGo's philosophy for AI features is that they should be "private, useful, and optional." The company's browsers come with several privacy features, including blocking third-party trackers, stopping targeted ads, and not tracking searches.
To hide AI-generated images in DuckDuckGo search results, follow these steps:
1. Go to duckduckgo.com and enter any search term. 2. Click on the **Images** tab to view image search results. 3. Locate the new dropdown menu labeled **“AI images”** near the top of the page. 4. Click on the dropdown and select **“Hide”** to filter out AI-generated images from the results.
[1] [DuckDuckGo Blog Post on AI-Generated Images Filter](https://blog.duckduckgo.com/ai-generated-images-filter/) [2] [DuckDuckGo Help Center: Hide AI-Generated Images](https://help.duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-for-android/settings/hide-ai-generated-images/) [3] [DuckDuckGo Help Center: noai.duckduckgo.com](https://help.duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-for-android/search/noai-duckduckgo-com/) [4] [Android Authority: DuckDuckGo Introduces Feature to Hide AI-Generated Images](https://www.androidauthority.com/duckduckgo-ai-images-filter-988357/) [5] [TechCrunch: DuckDuckGo Introduces Feature to Hide AI-Generated Images](https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/28/duckduckgo-introduces-feature-to-hide-ai-generated-images/)
- DuckDuckGo, embracing their philosophy of offering "private, useful, and optional" AI features, has introduced a new feature that allows users totoggle AI-generated images on or off in their search results, aiming to provide users more control over their online experience.
- In the realm of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, DuckDuckGo's new feature uses open-source blocklists to screen out AI-generated images, acknowledging that while it may not eliminate every AI image, it significantly reduces their presence.
- Forthcoming discussions in the tech world revolve around the watermarking of AI-generated content, with OpenAI testing a watermark feature for AI-generated images in the beta version of ChatGPT's Android app, aiming to make them easier to spot in search results, mirroring DuckDuckGo's approach to giving users control over their digital encounters.
