Privacy-oriented search engine DuckDuckGo has launched the beta version of its AI-powered search tool, DuckAssist. The new feature is only available on the DuckDuckGo mobile app and browser extension and will be rolled out to all DuckDuckGo search users in the coming weeks if the trial goes well.
What is DuckAssist?
DuckAssist is based on generative AI technology from OpenAI and Google-backed Anthropic. According to the company, it will answer the user’s questions by scanning a ‘specific set of sources to find a summary from Wikipedia or sometimes Britannica. However, DuckAssist might not be available for most searches yet. This is because the new assist feature only appears for search results that have straightforward answers on Wikipedia.
How does it work?
If a user asks a question in the DuckDuckGo search box that can be answered by Wikipedia, DuckAssist may appear and use AI natural language technology to anonymously generate a brief, sourced summary of what it finds there. DuckAssist is anonymous and does not require users to log in. The anonymous queries of users through the DuckAssist feature will not be used to train the AI models.
Can DuckAssist provide inaccurate answers?
Even though DuckAssist only gives a summary from Wikipedia, it can still provide inaccurate answers to some complex questions. Therefore, users are advised to fact-check the information provided by DuckAssist since the tool is still in beta mode.
How to try out the new DuckAssist feature?
To try out the new feature, users need to download the DuckDuckGo app on their mobile devices or integrate the DuckDuckGo extension on their browsers. They should then search for questions that have straightforward answers like ‘What is search engine index’ or ‘how hot is hot yoga’. If DuckAssist does not appear for the search, users should try adding ‘wiki’ in their search query.
What are the privacy features of DuckDuckGo?
DuckDuckGo is a privacy-focused search engine that claims it doesn’t store any search or browsing history while using its services. The company says that DuckAssist is also anonymous and does not require users to log in.
In conclusion, DuckDuckGo’s new AI-powered search tool, DuckAssist, is now available in beta mode for users of the DuckDuckGo mobile app and browser extension. While the tool can provide brief and sourced summaries of straightforward questions, users should fact-check the information provided, and the company advises that the tool may not be available for all searches. As always, DuckDuckGo remains committed to user privacy and does not store any search or browsing history while using its services.
Follow and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn & Twitter.
