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.

[jlwork]

NO **bleep**ING AI!

[manndelion]

AI is a terrible idea. The only reason I'm still using Firefox is because it *hasn't* forced slop on its users like the other browsers. Guess it's time to move on.... Thanks for ensh*tting the bed.

[Escapist83]

I guess it's time to switch to a different browser then.

[mcmk]

No.

[Dnamra]

I'll be transparent with you, I along with a significant portion of your user base will be switching browsers as a direct result of your implementation of wasteful, useless A.I. 

[scribbly7]

AI isn't the future, it's an overhyped trend that's going to crash in a couple of years. it's incapable of being reliable because it's just glorified text prediction. everyone who dislikes AI is moving to firefox to get away from it, so I don't think that this move is going to go over very well with your userbase

[BlakeC]

It is such a shame that Mozilla is now so out of touch with the core of their userbase. The ability to toggle these features is not what users are looking for; a safehaven from these features is what Firefox used to represent for us. The majority of active Firefox users made the choice to switch to the browser in order to protect their data and aquire digital security. AI features are the antithesis to this safety in every regard - AI is an enterprise predicated on the amalgamation and analysis of users information. The fact that Mozilla is willing to integrate these features at all, even if they are optional and togglable for users, is a distinct betrayal of users' trust and will cause a mass exodus as we search for a browser that does what Firefox once did: values our privacy.

[silverel]

I have been using Firefox for years and made an account explicitly to give feedback after hearing about the new CEO and further pursuing even more AI "features".

STOP. Turn Back. Make your own product that is separate and see if ANYONE chases after it.

Jamming AI into everything DOES NOT make it desirable. It only encourages people to use forks and leave the community in disgust.

Listen to your feedback.

[farmerzeke]

PLEASE DON'T CORRUPT FIREFOX WITH AI!!!

[junijwi]

Leadership that can't make a distinction between the vast umbrella of AI tools and the destructive hype train of generative AI is not leadership that understands the current technical climate. Not to mention, generative AI and LLM are insecure: https://softwarecrisis.dev/letters/prompts-are-not-fit-for-purpose/

[AngelOShadows]

I moved to Firefox specifically to avoid AI. Partially because of how inaccurate it is (and how dangerous that can be), and partially because I find it just bloats my computer. It's something I don't want to use, and something I won't use-- but having it there, even in the background, even in a closed little window, just makes everything run slower.

Of course, AI is also just a trend, that most people don't want. Just because you're a CEO or a shareholder does not mean you know what people want, it just means you have more money to back your decisions. You do not know best, the masses do.

Have you asked the masses? It does seem, at least, that the masses are responding here.

[charizardi]

This is extremely disappointing and will affect how much longer I end up staying with Firefox. It doesn't matter to me that there is an opt-out option. It is disappointing to see Firefox investing time and money into something that is the antithesis of WHY many people choose to use Firefox. This is time and money that could go towards other Firefox improvements that would really set it apart from other browsers, but investing in AI drives it towards all the things I and many others are trying to distance from. Firefox's value is in its privacy protection. Bringing AI into it compromises privacy in a major way, and will lead to the loss of that part of its userbase.

[wolferahmite]

Greed has gotten the best of you yet again, and it will be your downfall.

[SteelCrossbow]

 I use Firefox and have used Firefox for more than ten years. The addition of Ai into the browser has completely tarnished my view of the company.

Adding slopware for the sake of slopware is ridiculous. I have turned off all mention of the sidebar and ai in my browser, but I no longer trust Firefox to be serving my best interests. This browser has stood out as a remarkably sensible and user-oriented choice, but Adding slopware has changed that. Please remove all AI features.

[handyjer]

Time to move to a new browser. Been using firefox for its entire existence, but I refuse to bow to AI nonsense in any shape or form. The new Ceo even considering it is shameful. Don't contribute to the fall of humanity.

[-c]

Let me be clear: I have downloaded Vivaldi for my phone in response to the new CEO's push to further integrate AI features. I want no AI features whatsoever. I think this technology is a waste of time, money, and resources. Data centers poison the land around them and the massive demand on the power grid will only intensify the need for fossil fuels to keep up. It is inefficient and irresponsible to use AI. If I wanted AI in my browser, I would just use Chrome. Good day.

[Careful_Knives]

I was also considering Vivaldi.

[Hawer]

i will change my browser the moment i see any AI garbage in my firefox

you have my word

[Elysiah]

This is awful. I've been using Firefox for years for it's better privacy and lack of AI trash that is constantly forced down on our throats in today's internet. Considering the vast majority of the userbase agreeing with this take, implementing this feature is a complete waste of money and resources for you. It's time for me to switch to another browser I suppose. 

[oceannotalake]

None of your users are asking for any AI features to be added! In fact many people switched to Firefox because it was one of the few browsers that didn't add any AI features!

If you continue to add features in then me and undoubtedly countless other users will be switching to a better, non-intrusive browser that actually values its users and isn't following the whims of Silicon Valley AI Death Cult for selfish gain. You are replaceable.

[citrusbuds]

more than 500 angry replies from users stating how much they do NOT want Firefox to shoot itself in the mouth by implementing any form of AI; I don't think we cannot be any clearer, Anthony. this **bleep** is a 2 for one deal: waste time, money, resources, and more, all while losing users who have spent YEARS on this browser because they had trusted it to actually work!!!! what a steal!!!

if Firefox wants AI, we do not want Firefox.

[March3]

You’ve got to be kidding me. I moved from Chrome to Firefox to get away from AI. I will NOT hesitate to move again to a different one if Firefox decides to follow in every other browser’s footsteps toward the burning chasm. In fact I might just do that today when I get to my computer—the fact that this even came up as a topic of discussion has lost Firefox a whole lot of trust from its consumer base. If I moved to a friend’s house to avoid people trying to sneak poison in my drink, and they ask me if it would be alright to put poison in my drink (“Just a question!”), I don’t think I’d consider them a friend anymore.

[John_Television]

No what doesn't benefit the web or the people who use it is doing things that are explicitly against the wishes of the VAST majority of your userbase. You aren't infallible, and people WILL jump ship again. You were the second choice. Don't act like you're irreplaceable because you aren't. Tell the new CEO to get off his high horse and stop sniffing his own farts. You're just a browser. There are dozens of others. 

[SF94]

What a bafflingly terrible decision. I can't imagine a user base less interested in something like this than the people who use Firefox. Really disappointing to see Mozilla hopping onto this ill-advised bandwagon.

[John_Television]

Actually I don't think I can really trust you to have the best interest of your user base in mind anymore so whether you continue on this path or not I'm out lol

[Starfallz]

This is a terrible idea. I use Firefox to get away from the intrusion of AI. I have trusted Firefox for years, but if this goes on to integrate I will have to change. 

[ConcernedMind]

You absolute bufoons. 

You've completely alienated your target audience. You're taking your main selling points, lack of tracking and full add-on control and throwing it in the garbage by tacking on a feature no user wants.

Which additionally slows down what features people DO want.

Stop this madness. Make mozilla Completely AI free and you'll see considerable growth.

[SouthFresh]

Which non C-suite-employee asked for this?

[max7]

Hey,

I don't want to have another AI nonsense tool - I never use it, don't want it, and see no sense in it. It has made other browsers already considerably worse and more frustrating to use - There is no upside to it. I will consider leaving Firefox if such a Tool would be implemented.

[souppatrol]

sorry for not being my most articulate and respectful right now, but i am so sick of encountering AI garbage everywhere i turn i feel like i'm gonna flip out. THE TOP REASON i use Firefox over any other browser is because of its commitment to privacy and security. THERE IS NO PRIVACY OR SECURITY WITH AI. i have already had to go into settings and turn off AI-related components - opt-in is a total lie. i don't want my browser to come pre-loaded with a data-stealing "assistant" i don't need assistance from. i don't want AI. i want the privacy, security, and customizability i've come to expect from Firefox over the years. i can and will find another browser to use and leave Firefox in the dust if ya'll continue to push bull**bleep** AI slop no one wants to see.

[artemouse]

Adding AI to a web browser (that people who specifically don't like AI have flocked to to get away from it) is a waste of time, money, and resources. It eats up processing power, not to mention the data-center adjacent towns in a water crisis from over reliance on generative AI. We don't need it. If we needed it we'd still be using Chrome.

[dangeroussnails]

this is a terrible idea that nobody wants. firefox was trustworthy specifically because it was not doing things like this. you have broken the trust of your users, including mine. i will be switching to a browser which does not do this. good riddance

[rookdaw]

CAN YOU MAYBE NOT??? Literally no one asked for this. If this is your CEO pushing you to do this to add features or productivity tell him it would make AND save more profit by just not taking the time to do it. Why do you need to pay your employees to work on USELESS BULL**bleep** when you can just have them work on actually useful features or security instead? 

not to mention i dont want another ai database built out in the middle of the desert sucking up water and making horrible noise for nearby residents. Where i live we’re in a horrible drought right now!!!! As a large company WITH THE POWER TO REDUCE THEIR FOOTPRINT why are you racing with other companies to destroy my home?!?!?!?! TAKE THE INITIATIVE. SAY NO TO AI.

[Dorium]

Please do not do this. I use firefox exactly because it doesn't have all the same unlikable nonsense that other browsers force on you. I expect a large number of people who use firefox are the same; why else would they have taken the active choice of switching to firefox instead of the default browser that ships with their operating system?

You might think you're appealing to the wider market here, but the people who are happy with the browser they're already on aren't going to switch because you made firefox more similar, because they already have a browser they're happy with. Meanwhile all it's going to do is alienate your core users.

It's like when coke brought out a new drink that was meant to appeal to people who preferred pepsi. It was a complete flop because the people who preferred pepsi already had a drink they preferred so there was no reason for them to switch. And the people who preferred coke weren't going to buy the new drink because it tasted more like the drink they didn't prefer.

[HmmmNope]

Congratulations on letting your new CEO **bleep** all over 20+ years of goodwill and dedication to being different and better. And just when firefox was starting to gain just a liiiiittle bit of traction in the web browser war with chromes sweeping bull**bleep**, y'all go and blow your own legs off. On purpose. 

Your users have never wanted AI implemented. Chrome users have jumped ship specifically to avoid it and Google's dissolving privacy. Please show the class where the overwhelming requests are that y'all like to talk about. As a user since it's first launch, I have never once encountered another firefox user that wanted AI.

"Standing still while technology moves forward...." Let me stop you right there. This is a fad, a bubble. One that is inching ever closer to bursting. This is not technology that moves anything forward; it's technology that has been proven harmful to people and the environment. It is technology designed to steal and plagerize. Tell us, how is a technology that requires theft to do its most basic function considered moving forward? I guess when you're so focused on chasing trends, it can look like forward movement from your perspective. To literally everyone else, it looks like some Tom and Jerry nonsense.

This is your swan song, and boy is it an ugly one.

[Deer]

If I wanted AI anywhere near my internet browsing I would be using a Chromium browser you morons.  If you continue down this stupid, stupid path, I will be switching browsers to one that hasn't **bleep** the bed in its haste to worshipfully fellate some goddamn computer **bleep**. Get your act together Firefox!

[Binaryhacker]

How about instead of making it easy to disable you don't enable it in the first place

[ALee]

I am very disappointed that Mozilla wants to push and develop more ways to insert AI into Firefox. I would rather you focus on improving performance. Turning off AI is not enough. I want it go gone completely rather than bloating up the browser in the background. I do not want to be forced to find yet another way to disable AI to improve performance. AI does nothing but waste resources as it pretends to be the future. It is not. It steals. It is not intelligent. It is untrustworthy. It is harmful.

I have seen the internet get rapidly worse with the introduction of AI. Continue down this path and I will be forced elsewhere. Mozilla is not inspiring any confidence.

[gapersons00]

I literally just switched to Firefox as my default browser last month BECAUSE of Chrome's bloatware and AI garbage and lack of all regard for privacy. I cannot express just how much of a giant middle finger these changes are to your current user base. 

[VaguelyDownward]

Adding (even more!) AI to Firefox demonstrates that 1) you are emphatically and explicitly ignoring the plainly-stated desires of the users, 2) you aren't interested in adding any actual value to the product, and 3) you don't know how to provide reasons to use Firefox over any other widely-available browser. Anyone advocating for these sorts of AI-powered tools either doesn't understand AI on a fundamental level (and therefore should be ignored at every opportunity), or their standards are easily purchased (and therefore should be ignored at every opportunity).