Google is overhauling Search to be AI-driven by default, prompting users to explore alternative search engines

At Google I/O 2026, Google announced that it is overhauling Search to embrace a conversational, AI-driven approach. Users are now given the option from the start to use AI mode, and even if they opt out, search results may include an AI Overview with a chat box for follow-up questions.

Alternative search engines offer different trade-offs: Kagi charges $5 per month for an ad-free, AI-overview-free experience with customizable search filters; DuckDuckGo is free and does not collect user search, browsing, or purchase history (though it displays ads based on search topic); Startpage strips personal data like IP address before forwarding queries to Google; Brave and Ecosia are both built on Chromium and allow users to toggle AI features on and off.

The announcement has alienated users. One commenter on Google's announcement video wrote, 'this is the best advertisement for letting people know it's time to get a different search engine.' Users cited frustration with AI being inserted into every product, and recalled the rocky rollout of Google's AI Overviews, which at one point told people to stare into the sun.