DuckDuckGo proposes AI-free search for schools... an option different from Google's policy

DuckDuckGo has pitched its search engine to schools as an alternative to Google's education search policy, with CEO Gabriel Weinberg promoting a guide for administrators on X after TechCrunch reported the move. The guide explains how schools can switch the default search engine on managed Chrome browsers and Chromebooks to DuckDuckGo, and administrators can also disable the AI features in DuckDuckGo search. The offer follows DuckDuckGo's objection to Google's approach to search in schools, positioning its AI-free option as a distinct choice for education institutions. The dispute matters because default search settings on Chrome and Chromebooks determine which engine students and schools use daily, giving the default provider outsized reach. What to watch next is whether school administrators adopt the switch at scale and how Google responds to the challenge in its core education market.