DuckDuckGo Launches AI-Powered Tool for Summarizing Information from Wikipedia
DuckAssist Helps Users Find Quick Answers While Maintaining Privacy
DuckDuckGo, the search engine that prioritizes user privacy, has introduced a new AI-based feature called DuckAssist. This tool is designed to provide concise and relevant information from Wikipedia when users ask certain questions, helping them to find quick answers. DuckDuckGo has highlighted that DuckAssist has been developed with a focus on privacy, meaning that user data will not be shared or utilized to train AI models.
Beta Version of DuckAssist Live on Mobile Apps and Browser Extensions
The beta version of DuckAssist is now live on DuckDuckGo’s mobile apps and browser extensions. Users who enter a question that DuckAssist can help with will see a box at the top of their search results that says, “I can check to see if Wikipedia has relevant info on this topic, just ask.” By hitting the blue “Ask” button, users will get an AI-generated answer using summarized information from Wikipedia. If DuckAssist has already answered a question once before, that response will automatically appear, saving users time and effort.
Focus on Privacy
DuckAssist is built upon language models from OpenAI and Anthropic, but the company has emphasized that it will maintain the same focus on privacy as DuckDuckGo. According to the announcement, DuckAssist won’t share any personally identifiable information with OpenAI and Anthropic, and neither company will use anonymous questions to train their models. This approach ensures that user data is not used for anything other than providing them with quick answers.
Limitations and Benefits
While DuckAssist may not have a response for every question, it is expected to be more frequently suggested for queries with simple answers on Wikipedia. The feature employs the latest complete Wikipedia download, which is typically a few weeks old, so it may not be able to offer assistance if users are looking for more recent information. Nevertheless, DuckDuckGo intends to upgrade this aspect in the future by integrating more sources for DuckAssist to utilize.
One of the biggest benefits of DuckAssist is that users don’t need to sign in to use it. This is particularly convenient for users who are tired of logging in to access tools like this. While other AI tools may require users to sign in, DuckAssist maintains a focus on convenience and ease of use.
Overall, DuckAssist is a promising addition to DuckDuckGo’s search engine. By providing summarized information from Wikipedia, the tool can save users time and effort in finding the information they need. The company’s focus on privacy is also reassuring, as users can trust that their data won’t be shared or used for training AI models. If the beta trial goes well, DuckDuckGo plans to add DuckAssist to the web-based search engine, making it even more accessible to users.
