At Google I/O last month, the SEO industry waited for Google to launch AI Mode to the masses, and the fatalist viewpoint that it will end SEO.
For the past couple of years, AI has been moving search through a structural shift. Every software tool is embedding generative AI as a new product feature for default interface, and there seems to be a new AI measuring or optimization tool every couple of days.
But we’re seeing users react both positively and negatively to AI being seemingly thrust upon them. DuckDuckGo is reporting that visits to its No AI Search have tripled since Google announced Intelligent Search.
How Everyday Users Interact With AI
As an industry, we’re focused on this narrative of total disruption, and we are seeing disruption and movement away from what has been our norm, but research shows a fragmented adoption of AI, rather than blanket adoption.
For easy, low-risk tasks like finding a local plumber or brainstorming dinner ideas, people are happy to use AI.
But when it comes to “Your Money or Your Life” (YMYL) topics, users tend to go back to traditional search engines. Research shows that 57% of users prefer traditional search engines when looking up information that affects their well-being.
The tripling of traffic to DuckDuckGo’s “No AI” search page is a direct reaction to users not having a choice.
When software forces AI on users without letting them turn it off, users feel trapped, especially if they’re not yet trusting of AI.
Instead of accepting it, they are actively switching to alternative search engines and browser extensions that offer the clean, link-based experience they prefer.
See also: Who Trusts AI? New Study Highlights Demographic Trends
Why People Are Hesitant To Trust AI
To understand this pushback, we have to look at how the human mind reacts to new technology (and a big thank you to Giulia Panozzo, who helped me source and research these studies).
The 5 Barriers To Trust
In a study published in Nature Human Behaviour, researchers De Freitas et al. (2023) looked at the psychological barriers that stop people from trusting AI.
There are two main reasons that stand out for search engines and AI.
First is “opacity,” which simply means the AI is a “black box.”
When a search engine gives a synthesized answer without showing its sources clearly, we cannot see how it got its information. Human minds naturally want transparency, especially when making important decisions.
Second is the threat to our “agency,” or our sense of control. When search engines force an AI chat onto users, it feels like our choice is being taken away. To regain control, users flee to alternative search engines that respect their independence.
Safety-First Thinking And Tech Anxiety
Research by Sapru (2026) in Technology in Society looks at why some people feel intense anxiety about AI.
The study divides users into two groups:
- Promotion-focused people, who love trying new…
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