DuckDuckGo has expanded its Duck.ai platform with new AI-powered photo editing features that allow users to modify images while remaining anonymous.

The company says all image prompts are anonymized and never used to train the underlying AI model, continuing its privacy-first approach to generative AI.

of announcement positions this update as an optional enhancement to Duck.ai’s existing text and voice capabilities. Users can now upload existing images to the AI ​​image generator and apply edits through natural language prompts. To access this feature, users can select “New Image” and then “Start with Image” and then upload a JPEG, JPG, PNG, or WebP file.

DuckDuckGo says that images you upload are stored locally on your device, not on its servers. Similar to text and voice interactions on Duck.ai, the company removes metadata that may include personal information, such as IP addresses, before forwarding prompts to third-party model providers. These providers currently include Anthropic, Azure OpenAI, OpenAI, Meta, and together.ai.

According to Duck.ai Privacy PolicyDuckDuckGo does not store prompts or output on its own servers. By default, recent chats are stored locally in the user’s browser unless the user opts out. Local chat history can be deleted individually, cleared using the platform’s “fire button,” or automatically deleted after 30 conversations. Your browser settings may also affect how long your local data is retained.

Importantly, DuckDuckGo says it has agreements in place with model providers that prohibit the use of submitted prompts or generated output to train or improve AI models. Providers must also delete the data they receive once they no longer need to generate a response. In most cases, deletion is required within 30 days, unless limited retention is required for legal or security compliance.

Founded in 2008, DuckDuckGo is best known for its privacy-focused search engine and positions itself as an alternative to data-driven advertising platforms. The company has steadily expanded its product portfolio to include privacy-centric browsers, tracker blocking tools, subscription services, and most recently, AI capabilities with Duck.ai. That approach stands in contrast to many mainstream AI services, which require an account sign-in and may use user data to improve their models.

The photo editing feature builds on DuckDuckGo’s recent developments. Real-time AI voice chatIt also routes audio through an encrypted relay to avoid storing recordings. In this implementation, audio data is streamed temporarily, and neither DuckDuckGo nor the model provider retains the audio data after the session ends.

Duck.ai’s Terms of Service impose some usage restrictions on new image features. Prohibited uses include producing graphic images of real people without consent, creating deepfakes or non-consensual intimate images, and creating illegal, harmful, or sexually explicit content. The service also blocks use in regulated and high-risk areas such as healthcare, financial and legal advice, and has safeguards to prevent abuse.

For users who want to avoid AI features completely, DuckDuckGo has also introduced a dedicated non-AI search interface at noai.duckduckgo.com. This version of the search engine automatically applies the company’s AI image filters to search results while removing AI-generated summaries, Duck.ai prompts, and related interface elements.