DuckDuckGo Introduces Setting to Filter Out AI-Generated Images in Search Results

Privacy-focused browser DuckDuckGo has introduced a new setting that allows users to filter out AI-generated images from their search results. This move comes in response to user feedback indicating that AI images often interfere with finding relevant content. To access the new feature, users can conduct a search on DuckDuckGo and navigate to the Images tab. There, they will find a dropdown menu labeled “AI images,” where they can choose to either show or hide AI-generated content. Additionally, the filter can be activated in the general search settings by selecting the “Hide AI-Generated Images” option. DuckDuckGo’s feature is particularly timely as the internet becomes increasingly saturated with low-quality AI-generated content, often referred to as AI "slop." The company explained in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the filter uses manually curated open-source blocklists, such as the 'nuclear' list from uBlock Origin and the uBlacklist Huge AI Blocklist. While it may not eliminate all AI-generated images, it will significantly reduce their presence in search results. DuckDuckGo is also considering the addition of more advanced filters in the future but has not provided specific details. The example used to illustrate the new feature—an image search for a baby peacock—seems to reference the controversy Google faced last year for returning predominantly AI-generated images of baby peacocks instead of real ones. This new setting underscores DuckDuckGo's commitment to enhancing user control and satisfaction, especially in the face of the rapid proliferation of AI-generated content across the web.