xayn Desktop: Ad-Free & Private Search Now on Your Computer

Xayn Launches Desktop Version of Ad-Free, Privacy-Focused Search

Berlin-based Xayn, a company providing ad-free, personalized, and privacy-safe search, has broadened its product line. They have now launched a desktop version, currently in beta.

Xayn WebBeta: A “Light” Desktop Experience

The desktop Xayn WebBeta functions as a streamlined web version of the existing product. It offers similar functionality to the mobile application, though some differences exist. For example, the swipe-to-signal interest/disinterest feature found on mobile is not available on the desktop version.

A “Browsing Engine” Offering Search and Discovery

Xayn isn’t strictly a web browser, but it blends search and browsing. It provides a private search function alongside an in-app browsing experience. This is achieved through a feed of content snippets, organized as a discovery and news feed.

Users may experience a slight delay when loading the software. This is due to Xayn’s AI analyzing data to populate the feed. The initial load time is typically longer, as the AI localizes content to the user’s country and establishes a baseline understanding of preferences.

Interacting with Content on Desktop

On the desktop version, users can indicate their preferences by hovering over green (like) or pink (dislike) bars next to content. Clicking the corresponding thumb icon then registers the feedback. Essentially, a left-click signifies a ‘like’.

Users can also disable the discovery feed entirely, leaving only a search bar for a focused search experience.

Search Results and AI Learning

Search results are presented in a grid of rectangular content panes, similar to the discovery feed. However, some users may find this layout lacks information density.

The AI learning component can be toggled off via the brain icon in the top right corner. This allows users to browse without their activity influencing the AI’s content selection for both the feed and search results.

Users can also manually reset the AI’s learning by clearing their browsing data, effectively starting fresh.

Key Differentiators: Ad-Free and Open Source

A significant benefit of Xayn is its ad-free nature. Unlike other privacy-focused search engines like DuckDuckGo or Qwant, Xayn does not rely on contextual advertising.

Furthermore, Xayn’s search algorithms are open source, promoting transparency and community contribution.

Additional Features

The desktop version includes a ‘deep search’ feature, allowing users to explore a topic through a personalized reference library. ‘Collections’ provide a bookmarking-like function for saving and organizing web content.

Xayn also incorporates an ad blocker, ensuring a “noise-free” browsing experience by blocking ads on third-party websites.

Browser Compatibility and Mobile Adoption

Currently, the desktop version is optimized for Chromium-based browsers and Firefox. Safari users will need to switch to a compatible browser to test the WebBeta.

The mobile version of Xayn, launched in December, has been downloaded over 250,000 times globally.

User Engagement and Privacy-Safe Results

Within three months of launch, users were conducting more than 100,000 daily searches. This data fuels the AI’s learning process, improving personalized content discovery. Because learning and reranking occur on-device, Xayn emphasizes the privacy-safe nature of its search results.

To avoid filter bubbles, the algorithms intentionally introduce variance, preventing users from being solely presented with reinforcing content.

Masked Federated Learning for Privacy

Both the desktop and mobile versions utilize Masked Federated Learning, a technique that personalizes the user experience without compromising privacy.

Comparison to Google’s Approach

Google is also evolving its ad targeting technology with FloCs, aiming to replace tracking cookies with interest-based cohorts. However, Google’s core business remains centered on user profiling and advertising, a practice Xayn actively avoids.

Company Vision and Design Philosophy

“We started Xayn as a direct response to the false privacy vs convenience dilemma and quickly proved that it’s possible to solve this trade-off so users are no longer losers,” stated Leif-Nissen Lundbæk, co-Founder and CEO.

“With Xayn, you can find your favorite part of the Internet – either by actively searching the web or by browsing through the discovery feed that offers personalized content suggestions from the entire Internet. Either way, your privacy is always protected.”

Julia Hintz, head of design, added, “In creating Xayn’s web version, we have taken all the elements that made the app great and adapted them to the desktop browser window. The privacy-protecting algorithms, the intuitive design, and the smooth animations have found their way into the web version.”

Data Security and Future Development

Xayn emphasizes that user data remains private within the browser. A spokesperson noted that while desktop computers are generally less secure than smartphones, Xayn employs decentralized privacy-preserving machine learning and encryption to protect personal data. The desktop version operates in a sandbox within the browser, further safeguarding user information.

Future plans include synchronizing the personalized experience across mobile and desktop devices while maintaining user privacy.

Accessing Xayn WebBeta

The WebBeta version of Xayn’s search engine is available at www.xayn.com.

Funding and Expansion

Xayn recently secured $12 million in Series A funding, led by Global Brain and KDDI, bringing its total funding to $23M+. Asia, particularly Japan, is now a key focus for the company.