DuckAssistBot

What is DuckAssistBot?

DuckAssistBot is an AI assistant bot operated by DuckDuckGo that powers their DuckAssist feature. This specialized user agent fetches content from trusted sources to generate real-time AI answers to user search queries. Unlike traditional web crawlers that continuously index the web, DuckAssistBot operates on-demand, activating only when a DuckDuckGo user submits a search query that triggers the DuckAssist feature.

DuckDuckGo created DuckAssistBot as part of their privacy-focused search ecosystem. The bot identifies itself in server logs with the user agent string DuckAssistBot/1.2; (+http://duckduckgo.com/duckassistbot.html). This standardized format makes it easy to identify in server logs and robots.txt configurations.

DuckAssistBot functions as the retrieval component in DuckDuckGo's retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) system. When activated, it targets specific trusted knowledge repositories—primarily Wikipedia and Britannica—to supply DuckAssist with up-to-date information. This targeted approach helps reduce the risk of inaccuracies while maintaining answer quality.

Why is DuckAssistBot crawling my site?

If you're seeing DuckAssistBot in your logs, it means DuckDuckGo users are likely searching for information related to your content. Unlike conventional crawlers that index content autonomously, DuckAssistBot only accesses websites when directly triggered by user queries that activate the DuckAssist feature.

DuckAssistBot primarily focuses on trusted knowledge repositories, but may visit other authoritative content sources. The frequency of visits depends entirely on how often DuckDuckGo users submit queries that trigger DuckAssist and relate to your content.

This on-demand model ensures the bot accesses external websites solely to fulfill specific user requests, aligning with DuckDuckGo's privacy-first philosophy by minimizing unnecessary data collection. All visits from DuckAssistBot are authorized as part of normal web browsing activities, similar to when a user might visit your site directly.

What is the purpose of DuckAssistBot?

DuckAssistBot supports DuckDuckGo's DuckAssist feature, which provides instant, sourced answers to user queries. The bot's primary purpose is to enhance search results by retrieving relevant, accurate information that can be processed into concise, conversational answers.

When a user submits a query, DuckAssistBot retrieves relevant passages from trusted sources, which are then processed by DuckAssist's natural language processing models. The generated answer appears above traditional search results, accompanied by source links for verification.

This approach benefits users by providing immediate, factual answers to their questions while maintaining transparency about information sources. For website owners, being included as a source in DuckAssist answers can drive visibility and traffic when users click through to verify information.

How do I block DuckAssistBot?

While DuckAssistBot respects robots.txt directives, DuckDuckGo advises against blocking it since it operates on behalf of human users. Blocking the bot may negatively impact how your content appears to DuckDuckGo users.

If you still wish to control DuckAssistBot's access, you can use the following robots.txt directive:

User-agent: DuckAssistBot
Disallow: /

To block specific sections of your site while allowing access to others:

User-agent: DuckAssistBot
Disallow: /private-section/
Allow: /

Be aware that blocking DuckAssistBot means your content won't be available to DuckDuckGo users through the DuckAssist feature. This could reduce visibility and potential traffic from users who might otherwise discover your content through AI-generated answers.

Since DuckAssistBot operates on behalf of real users seeking information, allowing access generally aligns with the goals of most content publishers who want their information to be discoverable and useful.