Privacy-first browser DuckDuckGo is introducing a new feature that allows users to hide AI-generated images from their search results. This update comes in response to user feedback, with many expressing frustration that AI images sometimes hinder their ability to find relevant content.

Figure 1. DuckDuckGo Introduces Filter to Remove AI-Generated Images from Search Results.

To use the feature, users can perform an image search on DuckDuckGo, navigate to the "Images" tab, and access the new “AI images” drop-down menu. From there, they can choose to either “show” or “hide” AI-generated content based on their preference. Figure 1 shows DuckDuckGo Introduces Filter to Remove AI-Generated Images from Search Results.

As AI-generated content increasingly floods the internet—often dubbed “AI slop” due to its low quality—DuckDuckGo is responding with a new feature that lets users filter out AI images from search results.

Announced via a post on X, DuckDuckGo says the filter uses manually curated open-source blocklists, including the widely used “nuclear” list from uBlockOrigin and the Huge AI Blocklist from uBlacklist. While the tool isn’t foolproof, the company notes it will “greatly reduce” the number of AI-generated images users encounter.

The filter can be accessed through the Images tab during a search, where users will find an “AI images” drop-down menu allowing them to toggle AI content visibility between “show” and “hide.”

DuckDuckGo also hinted at plans to introduce additional filters in the future, though no specific timeline or features were disclosed.

Interestingly, the browser’s example for this new feature involves an image search for a baby peacock—a subtle nod to a controversy Google faced last year, when AI-generated peacock images began dominating its image results over real ones.

Why the Feature Matters — Fighting Back Against “AI Slop”

As generative AI floods the web with low-quality, artificial media—often referred to as “AI slop”—users are struggling to find genuine, real-world imagery in search results. DuckDuckGo's new filter empowers users to take control over what they see, restoring clarity in an increasingly cluttered search landscape.

How the Filter Works — Manual Blocklists at the Core

The feature is powered by manually curated, open-source blocklists like uBlockOrigin’s “nuclear” list and the Huge AI Blocklist by uBlacklist. While the system isn’t perfect, it significantly reduces the number of AI-generated images shown in search results by blocking content from known AI-heavy domains.

Using the Feature — Simple On/Off Toggle

To activate the filter, users simply conduct a search on DuckDuckGo, navigate to the Images tab, and select the new drop-down menu labeled “AI images.” From there, users can choose to either “show” or “hide” AI-generated images, making the tool both accessible and customizable.

Future Plans — More Filters Coming

DuckDuckGo has confirmed plans to expand its filtering capabilities beyond just images. While no specifics or timeline have been shared, the move signals a broader effort to give users more control over how AI content appears—or doesn’t—in their search experience.

Context and Controversy — The Baby Peacock Incident

The choice to showcase a “baby peacock” in the filter’s demo is a pointed reference to a 2024 controversy where Google was criticized for surfacing AI-generated bird images over real ones. DuckDuckGo appears to be highlighting its stance on prioritizing authenticity and transparency in contrast to AI-dominated results elsewhere.

Source: TC

Cite this article:

Priyadharshini S (2025), DuckDuckGo Now Offers Option to Hide AI-Generated Images in Search Results, AnaTechMaz, pp.754