Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET's key takeawaysGoogle alternatives with little to no AI still exist. Startpage and DuckDuckGo are the top options. Mojeek is best for an independent search index.I'm not the biggest AI critic in the world, but even I'll admit it: I don't always want Google summarizing the internet for me.Honestly, I wish I could turn off AI Overviews. I also don't want to be nudged into AI Mode with every query. Sometimes, I just want to type a few words, get a wall of blue links, and decide what to open myself. Yes, I know there are ways to make Google feel a little more like old Google, but they're clunky. And, sure, I could switch to a different search engine, but that's weird, right? Also: Google's new AI Search box is here - along with agents and 5 more upgradesI've been Googling for 20 years. Still, it got me wondering: Are Google's competitors going all in on AI, too? So, I went hunting for alternatives -- ones that use little to no AI and still feel like a classic search engine. Apparently, that version of the internet is getting harder to find. If my problem isn't just AI, but how much data Google collects, Startpage is an interesting alternative.Launched around 20 years ago, Startpage basically submits my queries to Google and Bing anonymously on my behalf, so I can get plain old Google-style results without actually searching Google directly.It does not store my IP address, use tracking cookies, or store user-agent data. Its Anonymous View feature can also mask my IP address from any site I visit. "It essentially acts like a VPN," Startpage said.Also: This free Chrome tool cleans up your Google searches - hide AI, sponsored links, and moreStartpage stands by "AI is a choice," not the default experience, and has promised to make "all AI features optional." In settings, I could disable search suggestions, instant answers, and promotional messaging.Startpage does have Vanish, a separate AI product, but even there, the pitch is privacy. Vanish provides "private access" to models such as GPT-5 and Claude, and conversations are never tracked and stay local on device.