@susankayequinn It's possible that if you're blocking cookies by default, DDG is unable to store your preferences locally, with the net effect being that it forgets your settings. I mean, maybe? There may be ways to disable AI results for DDG using URL parameters, like this one for Google: https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14
@jrivett I do have to clear out my cache every once in a while because Firefox grabs some error and holds onto it. That happened recently. Just glitchy-ass software and AI that's shoved into everything by default.