New Delhi: People’s relationship with artificial intelligence on the web is getting complicated. Some users actively seek AI tools inside their browsers. Others want nothing to do with them. However, companies are pushing AI into everything, from smartphones to apps. That split is now shaping product decisions across the browser industry.
Mozilla has said it is giving users a clearer choice. Starting with Firefox 148, the company will introduce a new setting that lets people block all current and future AI features inside Mozilla Firefox.
Firefox 148 adds a single switch to block AI
In a blog post, Ajit Varma, Head of Firefox, said the change came after hearing from users with very different expectations around AI.
“We’ve heard from many who want nothing to do with AI. We’ve also heard from others who want AI tools that are genuinely useful,” Varma wrote. “Listening to our community, alongside our ongoing commitment to offer choice, led us to build AI controls.”
The new AI controls section will appear inside desktop browser settings when Firefox 148 rolls out on February 24. It offers one place to manage AI preferences. Users can either control features one by one or turn on a single toggle called “Block AI enhancements” to switch everything off.
“This lets you use Firefox without AI while we continue to build AI features for those who want them,” Mozilla said.
What users can manage today
At launch, the AI controls allow people to manage several features individually, including:
- Translations for browsing in different languages
- Alt text in PDFs for image accessibility
- AI enhanced tab grouping and suggested group names
- Link previews showing key points before opening
- AI chatbot in the sidebar
The sidebar chatbot supports options such as Anthropic Claude, OpenAI ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and Le Chat Mistral.
Once preferences are set, Mozilla says they will stay in place across updates and can be changed anytime.
A response to recent backlash?
The move follows criticism after Mozilla appointed former Firefox general manager Anthony Enzor-DeMeo as CEO and said Firefox would “evolve into a modern AI browser.” He also stated that “AI should always be a choice.”
For many long time Firefox users who value privacy and a lightweight browser, that shift felt uncomfortable. The new toggle looks aimed at calming those concerns.