I asked Google why it sucks so much. At least it's self-aware. *shrug*

Jun 1, 2026 2:30 PM

https://www.the-independent.com/tech/duckduckgo-ai-google-search-b2986989.html

Point of fact, it isn't self-aware, because it isn't aware of anything.

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

If anyone insists on using Google as-is, type in -AI before your search.

3 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

The video from The Infographics Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WyduoGpIPo

3 months ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

I’m on year 2 or so since I made the switch.

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I have a Firefox addon and such to remove all AI from search results and shit, but you can tell that it still *sorts* them with AI.

2 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Non-AI google https://udm14.com

3 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

I mean it's hard to show evidence that the Google's AI overview is bad when you have a screenshot of the AI telling you everything correct, without a bias.
This is like that that meme saying Patton Oswalt is a failed comedian and using that photo of him holding an award he got for comedy

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Interesting read on the subject that tells – with evidence – how the ad people took control of the search engine: https://www.wheresyoured.at/the-men-who-killed-google/

3 months ago | Likes 43 Dislikes 0

Ed Zitron has been right about a lot of things lately.

3 months ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

He brings a lot of hard numbers to his AI rants. I enjoy reading those.

3 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

My samsung voice remote couldn't recognize the word Bataan even when I spelled it. I said "you suck". It said back " I'm getting better". I'm getting worried now.

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Simple. Just use the “the disenshittification Konami code.” (Google it, lol.)
Or go here for some background. https://gizmodo.com/one-simple-trick-makes-google-search-less-shitty-2000515952

2 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I switched to duck duck go. Fuck Google and fuck ai

2 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

DDG is approximately ratshit outside the US. Hopeless where i live.

2 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Notice enshittification is only bullet point summary using quotes. Other summaries are presented normally, but "enshittification" is in quotes. Bitch please.

2 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I absolutely hate when people use AI for recipes then complain at a potluck their shit turned out weird. Don't be bringing food no one has tried, not even yourself to the public and then complain there's too much sage in this pasta salad.

3 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

3 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

it's like this though. My wife teaches career tech and they have a culinary department. Students will AI recipes and fuck up the proportions. The chef lets them because it's the only way they'll learn to be smarter about making mashed potatoes for 60. Consequence is the best teacher.

3 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

the teacher is a solid dude and I respect that when it comes to the student showcase he is hands off. Kids bring their meal ideas, budget it, and show off what they've learned. You get credit on what you make and mistakes are public. The kids sell this culinary out of the classroom a few times a month. It tends to be popular unless something awful was made.

3 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I'm just going to try duckduckgo for a month and see how I like it

3 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

its not self aware...its just been trained on the data that states that is the reason.

3 months ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

What search engines do people use instead of google?

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Aside from many, many other choices, there's Old Google : https://www.google.com/webhp?udm=14&tbs=li:1

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

.

3 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I had no idea it existed.

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Because they hired the guy that cratered Yahoo and put him in charge of Google search.

3 months ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

DDG is basically Bing. They claim they use a mix of results, but if you compare the results, it is pretty much Bing.

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Switched to DDgo for desktop and mobile browser a couple years ago and never looked back. Built in ad block and everything works just like any other browser, no regrets.

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

It's just taking your search request, and instead of pulling the top websites to click on it provides and ai summary. Sometimes this is good enough. But ai summaries are like wiki entries. Someone could be poisonong the well with bad info or entries. We already see fake sites that act like review sites for crappy products to flood folks with fake positive info. We're going to see floods of bullshit sites ahowing up trying to skew ai results now.

3 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

but isn't duckduckgo just Bing in disguise?

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I tried to find a really upbeat happy song I remembered with the lyrics that are something like "she's sleeping with some other guy, and IIII, just waaaant to diiiieeee" (banger song as I remember it)
And the FUCKING clanker started sycophantingly saying "oh, I'm sowwy that's happening to you" which offended me so fucking much I had 0 perseverance to find the actual song after a few shit results.

3 months ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Dammit. That sounds familiar. So familiar that I'm now trying to find this song while the clanker tells me not to kms

3 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I think my vague memory of it was from a gif here where someone was on their porch with a coffee while there was a house fire being fought close enough to be visible, and that song was added in as a parallel juxtaposition of calm/happy and chaos/sadness.

2 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

https://youtu.be/mEuC5O6TiR0

This the one?

2 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Yes! Thank you!

I actually remembered it being more upbeat, but yeah, it's exactly this one, thank you so much

2 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

The fucking clankers and they pretending of being human and puritan gets the worst off me.

3 months ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Also, because so much of its parameters are now controlled by OTHER AIs - and those parameters are being generated based on the results generated by OTHER AIs (for worse and for WAY WORSE) we have, basically, achieved the 'dead internet theory' WHILE still being forced to live and/or interact with it 😛
https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1ajB5MnNpbmR2ajd1dmtjMnp5OW5hM2pnbWo3ZmdmMTI3Zjh3bGR6OCZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/aFfYlsEdiWPDi/200w.webp

3 months ago | Likes 121 Dislikes 1

3 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Funny how quickly AI cannibalizes itself.

3 months ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

It's the suits demanding constant growth and short cuts - AI needs data to build algorithms. So much data is owned that its easier to just steal data from other AIs

See the problem the Asgard ran into when they kept cloning themselves

3 months ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Daisy, Daisy, tell me your answer true...

2 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Wasn't that always gonna be the result with the dead internet theorie?

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

The dead internet theory is that EVERYONE has been replaced by machines - not that we'd all be trapped in here with BB8 https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1Z203dXc1eDQ4cmNqd21wMW04anppbWk1dHZiNWU0NWJ2eHJ5ZnIxNyZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/3ornjU0VM71ODjzjuU/200w.webp

3 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

And what would the situation be slightly before reaching that ending.

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

3 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

DuckDuckGo yes. I’m also using Wikipedia’s app way more now.

3 months ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

Except sometimes I search ddg and get all AI generated dreck trying to puff out 1 piece of information into a bullet list and advertising inflated repetitive monstrosity

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

You can turn off their AI and it should save that preference.

3 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Not the AI in the search, all the top pages in the HITS are AI dreck. Happens regularly and I have to go to Google.

2 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Ah. Have you tried Qwant? It’s the main one I use.

2 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Nope, I'll give it a shot.

2 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Last week I tried to search for the title of a book. No search engine even came close. They all pushed AI. The internet is broken. I tried my usual Firefox, then DuckDuckGo, and in desperation I opened Chrome. All failed. All suggested AI options. I had to do the unthinkable: I had to ponder and think and dredge my own memory. Success! The greatest book you've never heard about: The Mind Parasites.

3 months ago | Likes 34 Dislikes 0

RFK Jr. doesn't mind parasites.

3 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

DuckDuckGo is so godawful. Awesome job guys, I like being able to block sites from my results - oh wait, I can only block five, ever.

At least the results are good, if I narrow my search to Wikipedia or Reddit.

3 months ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Even before the enshit era, it was pretty tough, the what's that book special thread over at goodreads is where to go. Sometimes the Reddit sub equivalent can get it done, but goodreads is where I've had success

3 months ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

This is the shitty future we built for ourselves.

3 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

The shitty future that was forced on us without anyone asking if we want it. It's always about profits, not progress.

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

We buy, though. We use. We consume. We could push back in ANY feature, function, policy, or product at literally ANY time. We could all unsubscribe from bad streamers. We could stop using Amazon. They only do this shit because it works and we don’t put up significant resistance. They come up with shit ideas, but if we tolerate it and reward them with continued sales and membership…they have literally zero reason to change course. WE have to stop bitching and start acting.

2 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Seeing as it's you recommending it, not ai, I'm going to look for it on my next trip to my local library! Best place on earth besides my own apt.

3 months ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

I’ve been using ecosia.org, which donates its profits, and produces more energy than it uses.

2 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Try Kagi, it is pay but you get a good amount of searches for free to see if you like it.

2 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

https://noai.duckduckgo.com/ should work, but yeah I'd suggest you roll up your sleeves and get tech savvy, if you aren't already, and start looking into self-hosting. I use SearXNG running on my own computer for example which just queries a bunch of search engines of my own choosing and strips all bloat&ads while sending no telemetry. It's the best search engine, because it uses whatever you like

3 months ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 1

.

3 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I feel like a kid with floaties learning to swim by mostly flopping about and not actively drowning. Thank you for helping =)

3 months ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

.

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Duckduckgo also has the option of filtering searched date range. I find setting it to limit results to stuff between 2000 and 2020 helps a lot.

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

"Don't be evil" went away over 20 years ago.

3 months ago | Likes 27 Dislikes 0

*was

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

He was funny at first but got repetitive, racist, Mysogynistic, &tc. Whenever I happened to see a funny strip during the declining years, I wondered who ghosted it for him.

3 months ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Even at first it was kinda generic and lowkey megalomaniacal. He said up front that Dogbert was his stand-in

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Oy, I had no idea on that. I thought Dilbert would've been.

3 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I'm sorry, tried to understand his humor, but couldn't.

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

They changed their company motto some years ago.

3 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Someone should notify Scott Adams... oh

3 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Stopped clock and all that.

3 months ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

He's about as stopped as it gets, thankfully!

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

adams is the best kind of racist twat - a dead one!

3 months ago | Likes 26 Dislikes 0

I forgot he died. Thanks for reminding me! :D

3 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I'm shocked how well the switch has gone for myself over the last few months.

3 months ago | Likes 51 Dislikes 1

Yeah I made the switch just under a year ago and its working quite nicely imo. I'll still use Google on rare occasions when I wanna use just base image search to see if someone has posted their naughties but thats about it

3 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

[deleted]

[deleted]

3 months ago (deleted Jun 2, 2026 4:13 AM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

Wild how fast that response was. Roughly 32 seconds after my comment

3 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

Multiple search engine alternatives that I use. DeGoogled my phone. Swapped to Linux. Most everything has been going swimmingly. A few hiccups in the name of privacy I am willing to tolerate.

3 months ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

It really is all about the trade off between convenience and privacy...i have been going as far off grid as i am comfortable, and learned so much along the way

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I've been using DDG for several years, and am pretty happy with the way it works.

3 months ago | Likes 25 Dislikes 0

It's not as good as peak Google, but I'll be damned if I return to Google

3 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Duck duck is pushing ai too tho. I tried to turn off the ai features and it crashes constantly 🙃

3 months ago | Likes 18 Dislikes 3

You using this? https://noai.duckduckgo.com/ never had a problem myself but idk

3 months ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 1

DuckDuckGo has been seen to turn off the “no ai” function and set you back to using AI fairly regularly, because like every other company, they want you to use it and justify the expense

3 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Not saying you're wrong but my immediate thought is that there either is some misconfiguration in place or some data that isn't persisting. Is this the DDG browser or just search engine In other browser?idk if it would be different but If through other browser atleast then I guess whatever setting you want to persist gets stored in cookies which ofc will revert back to AI if cleared. Could that be the cause if that issue?

3 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I primarily use selfhosted alternative so I wouldn't know but I can check tomorrow probably

3 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I didnt know the noai existed before like 2 hours ago. I shouldn't have to use a special link tho. I should be able to turn off ai in the regular browser.

3 months ago | Likes 18 Dislikes 1

Can you not? I'm pretty sure there's an option like right there to turn it off.

3 months ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

Yes I turned it off and now the browser crashes constantly

3 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

open https://duckduckgo.com/, open the burger menu in the top right, click on "settings", click on the "AI Features" bubble, and then change it how you want

3 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I did

3 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0