This Search Engine Fights The AI Image Flood

The Overwhelming Rise of AI Imagery

I’ve had enough of AI images. The internet is drowning in a sea of them, and frankly, it feels like a direct insult to the hard work of real photographers. While the technology itself is impressive, its primary use seems to be churning out algorithmic slop that resembles a oversaturated fever dream from a nineties stock photo library. This flood of artificial content is burying the skill, timing, and craft that define genuine photography.

Photography is fundamentally about capturing authentic, fleeting, and imperfect moments. AI-generated images are the exact opposite: instant, soulless, and fake. When search results for simple terms are filled with fabricated sunsets and impossible fashion shoots, it becomes difficult to distinguish what's real. For professional photographers, this trend is potentially devastating.

For example, searching for “wedding photography” on platforms like Instagram now surfaces AI-generated brides with unnervingly perfect features and grooms with plastic smiles. The real danger is that this aesthetic will become the new standard for “good” photography. Many photographers have shared stories of clients presenting AI images as references, expecting them to replicate impossible results in the real world. Worse still, some are losing bookings because AI imagery can be generated for virtually no cost.

A Search Engine That Filters the Fakes

For years, Google has been the default search engine for most people, but there are many alternatives. One of the most prominent is DuckDuckGo, which has recently introduced a powerful tool for those tired of the AI deluge.

DuckDuckGo now allows you to filter out AI-generated images from your search results. Tucked away in the 'AI images' dropdown menu is a simple but transformative option: 'Hide AI images'. With a single click, your search results are refreshed, filled once again with real, flawed, and beautifully authentic photos.

While the system isn't perfect and some AI-generated content may still slip through, it represents a massive step in the right direction. Unlike other platforms that seem intent on integrating AI into every facet of our lives, DuckDuckGo gives users the choice. You are in control of how much AI content you want to see.

Reclaiming a Corner of Reality

Switching your search engine might seem like a small act of protest, but it’s a tangible, practical step you can take to push back against the endless stream of AI sludge. Artificial intelligence isn't disappearing, but tools like this allow us to carve out a space on the internet where reality still holds value.

Personally, I would much rather browse a page of grainy, underexposed, but real images than be presented with another flawless AI “masterpiece.” I encourage you to join me in making this small change.

You may also like…

Read more of my thoughts in my article, I thought Chrome would always be my web browser. Now I'm thinking of changing.