Do you like the trendy design of AI-based chatbots, but do not like to leave your mark on such widely used services as ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini et al…?

This is how the article started a few months ago about AnonChatGPT, which is a direct derivative of the original solution with several privacy advantages: it can be used without creating an account and claims to respect user privacy by not storing data. , although you can always take measures to improve this aspect, such as accessing the site with private browsing, using a VPN, using Tor…

It turns out that there are friendlier and more reliable means, because we are not talking only about availability – ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini can be used by anyone… – but about respect for user privacy, which none of the mentioned services provide. But that’s what DuckDuckGo is for, the most popular of the alternative search engines focused precisely on respecting user privacy.

How to use DuckDuckGo chat

The truth is DuckDuckGo chat There’s no getting lost, and if you’re a regular duck finder user, chances are you’ve already noticed. To find it, just perform a search and select the corresponding option in the results menu under the same search field.

The first time you use it, you will have to go through a preliminary procedure: first, a short presentation in which they tell you that the chats are private, that there is no “training” and the two AI models on which the service is based; second, choosing which AI model to use (they can be switched on the fly); and third, to accept the privacy policy and terms of use, where all the details in this regard are given.

From now on, when you search on DuckDuckGo and select the chat option, the terms used will be transferred to the chatbot with the ability to edit call according to wishes. Of course, everything works the same on PC and mobile via a web browser. However, keep in mind that it is in beta, although this does not affect its use.

In relation to the privacy policy and terms of use, there is nothing to add: are not stored prompts no answers eithertherefore, there is no AI “training” based on user activity – which has the advantage of offering better privacy, but also the disadvantage that the quality of results does not improve with use, as ChatGPT or other services do.

Another limitation of DuckDuckGo chat is that it is based on ChatGPT v3.5 Turbo, forgiving the redundancy- limitation of results that it entails; and three-quarters of the same happens with the Claude 3 Haiku, another available model, if possible less generally recommended. Likewise, changing the model or device will automatically delete the current chat session.

In short, DuckDuckGo chat isn’t the best AI solution out there, but it’s an interesting resource. And if you don’t care, you can disable it from DuckDuckGo’s AI options, even if it doesn’t bother you either. In the same section, you’ll see the configuration of DuckAssist, a more Bing-like chat assistant that the search engine announced last year, but which is still only available in English.