Building AI the Firefox way: Shaping what’s next together

[Jolie]

Hi everyone,

We recently shared how we’re approaching AI in Firefox with user choice and openness at the center of everything we build. We’ve heard from many of you who’d prefer not to have AI in your browser at all, and we get it: We will soon provide additional settings for you to control how AI is used (or not) in Firefox.

Nonetheless, standing still while technology moves forward doesn’t benefit the web or the people who use it. That’s why we see it as our responsibility to shape how AI integrates into the web, in ways that promote openness, transparency, and choice. That way, users and developers can use it freely, help shape it, and truly benefit from it.

You’ve already seen this approach in some of our latest features:
💬 AI Chatbot in the sidebar – Access your preferred chat assistant without switching tabs.
📱 Shake to Summarize on iOS – Quickly summarize pages and stay focused on what matters.

Now we’re working on something new, and we’d love your input.

What is AI Window?

AI Window is an intelligent space we’re building that lets you chat with an AI assistant and get help while you browse, all on your terms.

✅ Completely opt-in: You decide if and when to use it.
🔄 Model flexibility: Pick the AI model that best fits your needs.
⚙️ Full control: Easily toggle it on or off anytime.

Help us shape the future

We’re still early in development and want your feedback. Starting today, you can sign up to receive updates.

[isthisusrnmtkn]

you said this very well, i agree

[MxHarperion]

I'm officially looking into alternatives to firefox that aren't going full AI support. That "technology" hallucinates, causes psychosis that's led to deaths, ruins the environment, drives up electric bills near every single data center, and it's making people less able to think critically and engage in meaningful ways with anything. Congrats on falling into the latest shiny new thing, though, I hope you're all proud of yourselves for participating in something that is making the world a measurably worse place. This is pathetic, disgusting behavior that you should feel ashamed over, if you're even capable of that emotion.

[Unaccounted4]

It's amazing how you continue to disregard dozens of well documented issues and glaring omissions in Firefox's support of technology, but then pretend to justify this desperate... it's not even a cash grab, it's just hype-chasing. Awfully belated at that!

When Google finally stops caring about the anti-trust fines and stops paying Mozilla, I will not mourn its demise. The cavalcade of near back to back missteps and harmful decisions have been quite the show.

[anyprophet]

This is a joke right? AI is bad and makes everything worse. Please just be a regular web browser. 

[johua]

it's so frustrating that you don't seem to understand that we don't want this at all, I think I saw maybe one post in support of it while looking through multiple, multiple threads including one that had a ton of responses.

at this point you're basically falling for NFTs but you're not like, falling for it ahead of the curve, you're falling for it at the part of the curve that plummets into the ground.

opt-in is better than you turning it on and leaving it to us to dig around in about:config? I guess?

I would prefer it if you stopped wasting time and resources on a feature that your community has told you so thoroughly that we don't want.

[idc]

Dear Mozilla

Today Anthony Enzor-DeMeo made an announcement on the official Mozilla blog about stepping into the role as the CEO of Mozilla. He mentions AI a handful of times in his fairly concise announcement, as part of his vision for Mozilla going forward. In other words, this is the course that the captain of the ship is setting. With nowhere else to really respond to this, I turn to the most relevant place that I can think of (however futile this might be, as I’ll soon elaborate on).

It’s disheartening to see a thread like this go up to collect feedback from the community, but then get largely dismissed when the response isn’t aligned with Mozilla’s existing goals. The first few responses by Jolie, indicated that there is an easy ”Turn off AI”-setting in the works. This is the only additional information we have received thus far, and yet we’ve only seen the addition of more opt-out AI settings hidden in the about:config page since then. So while I believe Jolie that this setting is underway your actions have only gone against this information since this thread went up and that’s a bad look. Adding insult to injury is the response from Jolie to a singular positive comment among hundreds of critical voices. While it’s good that Mozilla acknowledges ’both sides of the argument’, it reads to many as ”this is the feedback we actually care about: validation”. It would be unfair to Jolie and Mozilla to judge the entire organisation based of the interactions of one employee alone, but today’s announcement by the new CEO has given more credit to this idea. This is not to speak critically of Anthony as an individual but it sends a message about where the organisation is headed. It doesn’t matter what the community thinks, Mozilla is already set on putting AI front and center in Firefox. What was the point of this thread again? What’s the point of me posting this here?
  
Sidenote:
It is incorrect to say 

Completely opt-in: You decide if and when to use it.

Opt-in would be to have a setting that is disabled by default and can be enabled by the user if they so desire. Right now all the AI-related features are enabled and displayed by default, just not fully pre-configured, making them opt-out. 

You asked for feedback. You received it (actually still is) and it turned out to be largely critical of what you’re doing, or at the very least how you’re doing it. Instead of addressing the feedback that you asked for, you’ve gone on ahead and given the community reasons to believe that you don’t really care what they think. This is more frustrating to me than the fact that AI is getting built into Firefox as opt-out features in the first place. 

AI is proving time and time again to be an overhyped tool that’s unreliable as well as ethically and morally questionable, and it says something about Mozilla when you push to chase this trend (despite your claims to the contrary). 

Had there been a browser I’ve been meaning to check out, this would’ve been the push for me to switch away from Firefox. Sadly, there just aren’t any alternatives that interest me at this point in time. Similarly, if I had been a Chrome or Edge user I would be less encouraged to switch to Firefox now. Why would I? I’ve been given the impression that it’s set in stone to become more of the same ilk but necessarily lagging limply a few steps behind.

[max6]

I just want to add my voice to the many, many people expressing that AI garbage is not worth the time to develop, integrate, or even to disable.

I would prefer to stay on Firefox, but on the present course I am evaluating other options and I certainly do not feel good about enabling any sponsored content that would benefit Firefox. Make it easy to, in one click, completely disable AI integration, at a minimum.

[TiltedW]

---

I would prefer to stay on Firefox, but on the present course I am evaluating other options

 It's really simple. Firefox just needs to understand it.

If mozilla decidedes to pursue AI for their browser, the users will decide to pursue a different option as their browser.

[kx]

I have used Firefox for nearly literally its entire existence.  Through every iteration and peak and valley of all the browser wars, I have stuck with it.  It is one of the few pieces of software out there that to me still encapsulates the spirit of what the internet was supposed to feel like.

If Firefox "evolves into a modern AI browser" . . . . for the first time in my life, I will stop using it.  And I will be heartbroken.

[redempts]

I recently pushed Firefox to some friends and then learn about this... I'm so ashamed. Nobody wants this AI garbage. 

[OldVamp]

No one wants AI built in to their Browser. 👎

[Odrez]

Not only do I not want my web browser to be an AI companion, I am appalled that this is how Mozilla is planning to spend its money. If this is the direction you're going, all my goodwill surrounding the firefox ecosystem will be fading away as I'm going to use whatever browser I can to evade this massively destructive and aimless tech charade.

[isthisusrnmtkn]

i agree!

[ekunnn]

this sucks **bleep**. noone wants this. the fact that the top-level people at firefox want this garbage AI **bleep** has made me start looking for a new browser. 

[Koril]

Hey can we NOT turn Firefox into a bloated AI browser? No one wants this.

[neondream]

Implementing AI is a terrible choice. I moved here to Firefox to get away from AI. I'm already looking for my next browser since you will be implementing AI into your browser. It's a shame you're joining in on AI when people use your service because it is different from the other browsers that have forced AI onto us. 

[Overland]

Why I use Firefox:

Because it's not engaged in the predatory practices and flights of fancy that define an increasingly alienating tech landscape. Because it feels like something I can understand and control. Because it understands that it has its job, and isn't trying to be a jack of all trades.

My pain points using Firefox:

• It still could use more optimization, as I need to restart it semi-regularly. It uses more and more resources over time, especially with a ton of tabs. 
• It feels sometimes less snappy than Chromium browsers - especially with Google - run sites.
• The tools used to sort tools could be more comprehensive. It should be easier to isolate tabs making sound, find duplicate tabs, or generally sort and cull tabs. This is actually like the one place I can imagine an on-device AI being useful - something to sort through my 700 tabs and propose 1-300 that could be culled because they're duplicates, new tabs, out of date, whatever. 

I tried Comet. I tried some of the other dumb AI Browsers. Guess what I'm using right now? Firefox.

You can only re-define yourself a couple times. You are really sure that after 20 years of goodwill, you want to make your brand... a fad that your customer-base is incredulous of?

I can't think of many ways to make a worse case that you're gonna right the ship. It's like if the leadership at Wikipedia said that they were gonna make the site better with sponsored content. Or if a vegan restaurant pivoted to being a slaughterhouse. It's a complete misunderstanding of the brand you've built. Of the values that the brand currently represents. Of the brand value and values that you will wipe out with AI features.

If someone asks me, right now, why should I use Firefox over Chrome, there are specific things I can point to. As other browsers get more and more burdened with AI, I thought I could point people to Firefox as a respite. I'm just mystified. This seems like such a backwards decision.

Like - Speed Queen isn't the best selling washing machine. That said, everyone that buys a Speed Queen buys it because it's not like the other machines on the market. If Speed Queen started to make the same crap that is flooding much of the rest of the market, they are both unlikely to gain all the Samsung consumers they're missing out on now, and they also just lose all their current customers. You're a semi-niche product. Get over it. Acknowledge the niche and thrive in it.

[waylander90]

plenty of people have been respectful about it so im not going to be. **bleep** you and **bleep** ai, this is **bleep**ing stupid.

[JDavitt]

I do not want to use AI. It is inaccurate, wasteful, and steals. I am very disappointed to see you going this way. If you'd stood your ground and provided and AI-free browser I think you would have reaped the benefits. 

As soon as I find a browser like that, I am uninstalling Firefox. I have supported you from the start but this is not what I want.

[Debellatis]

Hi! If I wanted AI bull**bleep** on my browser I would use Chrome or Edge. Unless Firefox wants less and less users, maybe don't follow stupid trends? Specially of something novody **bleep**ing wants. Thanks!

[rhubarbarian]

Mozilla supporting genAI in truly any way is enough reason for me and many others to step away from Mozilla's products. Mozilla's products need not just an option to turn off genAI features integrated into the program, but distance from AI entirely. By following the footsteps of other browsers who use integrated AI, you are alienating your user base, and showing that you as a company are untrustworthy. AI is not the thing of the future, in the same way NFTs were a fad of the past. This is not growth or progression toward the future, this is trend-following and distancing yourselves from the image of privacy and transparency that had so many Mozilla users' interest. Since the integration of AI into Mozilla products I've been looking for a different browser. If this turns around however, I will return. There's a lot about Mozilla and Firefox that I like, this is just a massive disappointment. 

[Begging4OpenWeb]

If AI is a priority for Firefox. Firefox will no longer be my browser of choice.

[Chzdavmpr]

WE DO NOT WANT THIS!

It's not a matter of if it can be toggled or not. Firefox users DO NOT want AI to be part of it PERIOD!

Most devices have either Chrome or Edge as their default browser. People have to actively choose to switch to Firefox. And a lot of people do this BECAUSE they don't like the use of AI in the othee options.

I came here because of word of mouth. I've gotten other people to switch to Firefox via word of mouth. If more AI keeps getting added we (and many others) are just gonna leave and go to Librewolf.

[SteveBoi]

I was glad I opted out and only wish it had been easier. Agree with comments that Mozilla should be heading the other direction - helping us detect AI-generated content and helping expose its shortcomings instead of subserviently worshiping it.

[xx_k4nd1_xx]

100%!!! that would be utopia! a browser that can detect AI generated content, or even suppress it in the search results!

[bornhater]

if you're using UBlock Origin, they have block lists on github for it.

[nothingNU]

This! Developing something that would allow us to keep avoiding AI content is what will make your users stay and bring more people who is fed up with AI.

Follow the trend of forcefeeding us AI and you'll just lose every person who has come here to find shelter from the unconsensual AI takeover. 

[4hvegetoid]

With all due respect, please stop, never even think of doing this again, and let your developpers work on perfecting the browser instead of creating another water draining piece of garbage. No one cares about ai. It doesn't belong in a browser. We are burnt out from all of the constant flooding of ai, and the best thing you can do to win our favour is to stop. Feeding it.

[ReZpawner]

I've used Firefox for 20 years now, and if it goes AI, then that's it. I'm never going to use or support an AI platform. Quite frankly it disgusts me that someone at Mozilla even consider this, given its userbase. You're completely out of touch.

[kwunicorn]

I do not want AI. I specifically chose this browser so I wouldn't have to deal with AI. Whatever you guys decide, please make sure that it is VERY EASY to remove AI altogether for those of us who still want control over our own experience.

[jamjelly]

As a firefox user I, in no shape or form, have ANY interest in generative ai and I want it gone from my browser. I hate the opt-out out mentality, if you are going to change the way the browser is, it should ASK FIRST!!! This Ai craze is disgusting, its a cash grab, a scam, an ecocide, and has a major hand in environmental racism. I DO NOT WANT COMMUNITIES POLLUTED AND DRAINED FOR SERVERS FOR AN ALGORITHM THAT REGURGITATES STOLEN INFORMATION!!!

[Mara_Jester]

I believe I can vouch for many Firefox users when I say that AI integration is not just about personal user experience and that many of us see it as a serious ethical failing of Mozilla as a whole. I've even cancelled my subscription to Mozilla's VPN service as a result.

[Corinthar]

you drive away your userbase with this announcement. please dont implement this, i cant think of anything i want less - i moved to firefox specifically to get away from AI in browsers

[Oldiesmann]

"We know you don't want AI features, but we do, so we'll compromise and let you opt out of them". That's not how "listening to your users" works. You give your users what they want - the best web browser out there without bloat from features they won't use and don't want in the first place.

[49021bees29]

nobody wants that !!!! literally nobody !!

if any more ia is implemented onto firefox i (as many others have also expressed) will just stop using this browser.

[AeontheHermit]

Are you serious? Why is every single **bleep**ing tech company reaching for the **bleep**ing cyanide pills that are AI features that have long been proven to have no real applications outside of automating data analysis? There is nothing, NOTHING AI Related that I, or anyone I know, wants to use. It just brings bloat and vulnerability to literally everything it touches. Drop the AI, help us kill it in other sites, and we can forget this ever happened for much **bleep**ing cheaper.

[yoiku]

I can't choose whether i'm incredibly sad or incredibly angry about this or equal amounts of both, with the recent post from the new ceo out and everything. I've used firefox since 2005 and the main reason i've always stuck with it and recommended it to everyone is because it's not gone along every trend, especially AI sloppifying everything, adding entirely useless things that sound modern and cool.
Never have news made me come here to actally voice my concerns or disappointment before this.
If you will add a simple option to opt out from all AI features i might still stick around after this "new focus" is put into place. But that worries me as well, will people who opt-out of AI features then be left with a version that no longer gets care and attention for actual useful updates if the focus is going to be on AI.
I am actually considering uninstalling firefox for the first time in 20 years and I wish I wasn't.

[E-N]

This bs is not welcomed nor wanted.

WE. DO. NOT. WANT. AI. BS. IN. A. BROWSER!

If you want to do some AI bs then make it an addon that is 100% opt in only/not included in a base Firefox install.

I don't want to have any AI included(yet only disabled) in a browser giving rise to pointless bloat the vast majority of users will not use.

[no88123]

No.  After all these years, I will drop Firefox and never look back.

[12345666]

Do not put the scam that is AI in my favorite browser.