Foreign media commentaries suggest that the debate surrounding AI is spreading from the tech community to a broader user market. TechCrunch, in an opinion piece, noted that after Google continued integrating AI features into its search engine, some users have begun shifting to alternative services, creating new growth opportunities for products positioned as "anti-AI."
DuckDuckGo installation numbers are increasing
The article notes that Google faces the challenge of keeping pace with generative AI competition while potentially undermining the core experience most users are familiar with. For many long-term users, Google’s brand foundation remains information retrieval, not transaction-oriented services like shopping or booking.
The article cites DuckDuckGo, stating that after Google announced further enhancements to AI in its search experience, DuckDuckGo's installations increased by 30%. Although its size remains far smaller than Google's, this at least indicates that there is a segment of users who clearly oppose deep AI integration into search experiences.
Alternative products are beginning to adjust their positioning.
The article states that some alternative search products previously emphasized AI features, but are now separating these functions from the core search experience—or even downplaying their promotion. This shift reflects that some companies are positioning “less AI” or “optional AI” as a differentiating advantage.
Comments suggest that this divergence may also create opportunities for startups. This is because users’ attitudes toward AI are inconsistent, and the market no longer rewards only product strategies that fully integrate AI—retaining a traditional experience can itself become a competitive advantage.
CEO and employment disagreements widen
The comment also mentioned Aaron Levie, founder of Box, who believes that some tech company CEOs exhibit a kind of "hype" around AI because they are too far removed from the final stages of value creation, making them prone to overestimating AI’s short-term capabilities.
The article also points out that the impact of AI on employment is uneven. Jobs in areas such as software development have experienced earlier and more direct changes, while progress in more physical domains like manufacturing, transportation, and robotics has been relatively slower. Currently, many companies’ expectations for AI-driven efficiency gains appear to be driven top-down by management, keeping the relationship between AI and layoffs or organizational downsizing under continued scrutiny.