Engadget Podcast: Why pay $10 a month to get away from Google search?

Google has gone from being the go-to search engine to something people are paying to avoid entirely. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat with 404 Media co-founder Jason Koebler about his experience moving away from Google and towards Kagi, a $10 a month search engine without ads or data tracking. Funny enough, Kagi is still relying on Google’s index, so it’s a lot like using that site before the onslaught of ads, sponsored posts and AI results. Also, we discuss the company’s lies around Chrome’s incognito mode, as well as the news that it would be deleting user data collected in that mode. (Be sure to check out the 404 Media podcast too!)

Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News!

Topics

• Why Jason Koebler moved from Google to Kagi's paid search engine – 0:45

• Google says it will destroy data collected from users using Incognito mode – 15:01

• Gurman report: Apple is working on personal home robots – 24:55

• Amazon just walked out on its self check-out tech – 30:43

• FCC set to vote to restore Net Neutrality – 43:00

• Apple adds Spatial Personas to make the Vision Pro experience less lonely – 45:09

• Proposed California state law would give tech workers the “right to disconnect” – 47:17

• Tekken director responds to fighting game fans’ request for a Waffle House stage – 49:57

• Around Engadget – 51:22

• Working on – 54:31

• Pop culture picks – 59:13

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Credits

Hosts: Cherlynn Low and Devindra Hardawar
Guest: Jason Koebler
Producer: Ben Ellman
Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien