Duck AI: AI that (really) respects your privacy

Last updated on 16 March 2025

[Update – March 2025] : This article has been revised to incorporate the latest news from Duck.ai, the new version of DuckDuckGo AI, with features designed for education.

How to test an artificial intelligence chatbot simply and safely? While the issue of personal data protection is more important than ever with the emergence of AI, here is an AI tool that has the great advantage of respecting privacy.

Duck.ai is an alternative that wants to offer the best of current technologies without ever exploiting your personal data. The platform, which is completely free of charge, provides access to the latest AI models such as GPT-4o mini, Claude 3 Haiku, Llama 3.3 and Mistral Small 3, while ensuring maximum protection of private information.

The platform associated with the DuckDuckGo search engine, known for its commitment to privacy, offers smart interactions while ensuring user privacy. A good opportunity to test an AI chatbot in peace.

An innovative approach to protecting privacy

Duck AI pushes privacy standards even further. Specifically, it gives access to the same AI models as its competitors (GPT-4o mini, Claude 3 Haiku, Llama 3.3), but with one fundamental difference: each request is completely anonymised before reaching those models. How? Through a proxy system that erases any trace of identification – a technology initially developed to protect investigative journalists.

This means that you can use the chatbot with peace of mind, knowing that your personal information remains private.

What changes for data protection:

✅ Local storage only : Recent conversations stay on your device and are not stored anywhere else.

✅ Automatic deletion of metadata : Before being sent to templates, all identifiable information is deleted.

✅ Deletion within 30 days : Agreement with AI providers to ensure that no data is retained for more than one month.

✅ The " Fire Button" : An option to delete the entire conversation history with one click.

Useful functions for school use

DuckDuckGo AI Chat can be interesting for a reasoned introduction to chatbots in class. You can create learning situations. Students must interact with the chatbot. They can solve problems or answer questions. This encourages critical thinking and creativity. Students should ask their own questions and analyze the answers.

How to Use Duck AI Chat

The tool is free, without registration, and accessible in several ways: via a website, commands embedded in the DuckDuckGo search engine bar, a chat icon on DuckDuckGo browsers, or an iOS widget.

Practical, when using the DuckDuckGo Search Engine you can easily switch from search to chat, find your old conversations and adjust the level of AI support. Now AI enriches around 20 % results, with diversified sources and simplified verification.

The ideas for use in schools are endless:

• Documentary research: Use the tool to delve deeper into programme topics, comparing responses from different AI models.
• Writing assistance: Have plans or ideas generated for dissertations, which students will then have to develop themselves.
• Oral training: As suggested for the French baccalaureate, use AI to simulate questions from the examiner.
• Translation exercises: Take advantage of multilingual capabilities to work with foreign languages.

Reasoned use of AI

To test and use Duck AI Chat in a school setting it is necessary to prepare the session well and do not neglect any precautions. These seem self-evident, but we know that this is never the case.

Training and awareness-raising

Before using the tool with your students, this is an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of personal data protection. One can explain how this tool respects their privacy and why it is important in today’s digital world.

Accompany the handling of the tool

I advise you to have the students work in pairs to cross the information and maintain a critical look. It is also possible to supervise the first uses and guide the students during the first tests to ensure correct use.

It is relevant to compare the responses of different AI models on the same topic and to encourage the verification of information with reliable sources.

Focus on privacy-friendly tools

Duck AI Chat is onlyone example among others how technology can be used to improve education while protecting privacy.

Can we really offer high-performance AI without compromising user privacy? DuckDuckGo is convinced of this. And for schools, it is a breath of fresh air in a landscape where data collection is often the norm.

Here is in any case an interesting solution to test an AI chatbot without risks and without fear.

Stay curious and continue to explore innovative educational resources by Subscribe to my weekly newsletter, Les Outils Tice, free of charge.

+++

Quick answers to questions you may have

What is Duck AI Chat?

Duck AI Chat is an artificial intelligence chatbot that respects users’ privacy by not collecting or storing their personal data.

How do I access DuckDuckGo AI Chat?

You can access Duck AI Chat by visiting https://duck.ai or typing duckduckgo.com/chat in your web browser.

Is DuckDuckGo AI Chat free?

Yes, DuckDuckGo AI Chat is completely free, although it imposes a daily limit on the number of queries you can make.

What types of AI models can I use with DuckDuckGo AI Chat?

DuckDuckGo AI Chat enables interaction with several language models, including OpenAI’s GPT-3.5 Turbo, Anthropic’s Claude 3 Haiku, Meta’s Llama 3 and Mistral AI’s Mixtral.

How can I use DuckDuckGo AI Chat in a school setting?

You can use DuckDuckGo AI Chat for activities such as desk research, writing assistance, oral training and translation exercises.

Are my conversations with DuckDuckGo AI Chat private?

Yes, all interactions with DuckDuckGo AI Chat are confidential and anonymous. Conversations are not saved and cannot be used for model training.

How can students be made aware of the protection of personal data?

Before using DuckDuckGo AI Chat, it is essential to explain to students about data protection and privacy.

Can I compare responses from different AI models?

It is advisable to compare responses from different AI models on the same topic. This helps to encourage critical scrutiny and to verify the accuracy of the information given.