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.

[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.

[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.

[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).

[Cluelexander]

The only reason I am using Firefox is because it hasn't been shoving Ai slop down its users' throats. Don't ruin this for yourselves. You have a perfectly fine browser. DON'T RUIN IT. It's literally the easiest job. Please just win by doing nothing. It is so much easier to not implement this slop than it is to waste some poor developer's time to make something nobody wants. 

[deammer]

Hey yeah no, saying "standing still while technology moves forward" is loser behavior. Grow a brain. This technology is literally destroying the planet and stealing creative work. There's nothing good about it. And it can't even sustain its own costs. Please learn to think instead of regurgitating what ChatGPT tells you. There are so many things Firefox could be doing to get ahead while the other browser companies are sabotaging themselves, but it sounds like you're choosing to follow suit instead. What a pity.

[LotusPrince]

In a world where Internet AI is nothing but derivative trash, why the hell does every CEO decide that it's the cool new thing to pursue? Get this braindead slop off of your platform, and stop killing goodwill that you've built up for over a decade. Microsoft is finally backing off on Copilot because exactly zero people like it, so what in God's name made you think that tainting your browser with this embarrassing crap would be a good idea? The man's CEO for one day, and he's already proven to be a fool.

You know what's good for Firefox? Making sure that it works. Making sure that it isn't infected with the ever-eroding virus known as AI.

Stop being an imbecile. Fix your platform.

[danothy]

Mozilla Firefox has seen a bump in users ditching Google Chrome in the wake of AI's invasion and infestation.

Mozilla Firefox will see a drop in users ditching Mozilla Firefox in the wake of AI's invasion and infestation.

You serve me slop, I will address your slop by leaving. The choice is yours.

[poxlox]

I made an account just to post this as an almost life-long mozilla user. If you implement this, I am out. I will not use your garbage AI features, stop being a corporate buzzword shill and focus on creating a performant open-source browser with high levels of privacy. Who the **bleep** asked for AI tools when there's thousands of other companies with plenty. **bleep** the CEO **bleep** your direction and **bleep** your AI

[Roninbadger]

UGH. IF mozilla wants to AI then how about just making their own Ai app. dont ruin firefox forcing it on anyone.

OR If you want it in the browser then utilize the very accessible and very popular add-ons. Make all these "features" its own Mozilla Add-on. It will then track popularity with stars and downloads. AND if at some point in the near future you need to reverse course because to stifle attrition of your users you can stop support of the add-on. Because its voluntary, you will not lose your die hard fanbase who has stuck with Firefox for decades now. a fanbase that is the crux of your users. With the current opinions around forced Ai, in win11, one would think this move would be bad. 

[armadill0]

If Firefox will be heading into the direction of AI browsers I will be looking into an alternative browser. In the time of AI everywhere, Firefox distinguished itself with being one of the few AI free options. Now, it will just be one of many browsers. I - and apparently many other users - strongly encourage you to reconsider.

[tontodechoque]

what a useless update. this goes against every single reason why i switched to firefox, but then again it is simpler to ignore your user base for a quick buck. many users arent gonna be happy about this change and most of those will leave.

[Entity411]

To be completely transparent:

The instant that Mozilla adds even 'optional' support for AI features I will view it as the absolute death of this browser. I already hate that I have to lobotomize my internet experience for the sake of avoiding tracking and other dangers. Admittedly I viewed Firefox as only a minuscule bulwark against the vulgarities of the commercial internet, but with this decision it will be officially no less than cancerous and require excision from my personal life. 

'Optional' does not solve any problems nor make me feel better. I have had to spend actual time and beyond reasonable effort to disable 'Optional' features in the past. I do not trust any program I download blindly nor completely anymore because of this. The fact that it will be allowed at all means that eventually, months or years down the line, my assumed silence will be taken for granted as acquiescence and then this absolutely will be enabled without my knowledge or consent. Or Mozilla, like so many others, will say these things are disabled and just do what they please anyway. 

In my mind I'm already viewing the Mozilla foundation as a dying effort, and this is just another nail in the coffin. 'Nonetheless, standing still while technology moves forward doesn’t benefit the web or the people who use it' Is a useless and empty phrase. AI needs no integrating, it needs nothing short of absolute refusal. Calling it AI is a ruse in itself. Generative programming has no place in the human conversation, it accomplishes nothing of value and harms everything it touches. You could have been the browser that commits to combating this for the fad that it is, but I guess the money is too good or whatever. I hope you feel actual pain when Mozilla gets absorbed into whatever digital grey-goo the so called 'AI' inevitably decide to drown you in. 

I do not believe there is anything that will change my mind, but instead of just deleting my account and moving on I have been trying to be an old man yelling at clouds a little more.

AI is nothing short of a blight on world culture, it is strangling the internet, it is destroying creative fields, it is impacting the environment and technology in so many negative ways, and I resent having it shoved down my throat 'for my own good'

After a lifetime spent watching personal computers and the internet grow and flourish I can now see that my stop is coming up. Too much more of this and I will unplug completely and scream frothing expletives at every young moron that shoves their magic rectangle in my face or dares record me for their content.

[raster]

Mozilla’s CEO Anthony Enzor-DeMeo said: "AI should always be a choice — something people can easily turn off." I sincerely hope they keep that promise.

[DasBoot]

Everybody is so viscerally opposed to this braindead "innovation". No one asked for it. No one wants it. Everyone wants absolutely nothing to do with AI. The only reasons anybody used Mozilla is as an alternative to Google and their predatory behavior and AI. This is stupidly out of touch and you're just destroying the userbase that you have.

Instead of being a better alternative to Google, you decided to imitate Google and do what they're doing but worse.

If ANYBODY wants an AI-integrated search engine, they are going to use Google - not you.

You don't think everybody will just find another search engine?

You underestimate internet users' spite. I, myself, would scour the internet to find another search engine - and they may be what it takes, simply to avoid you AI shills.

[Qhaz]

Considering the fact that it seems like every single reply to this post is begging you all to NOT impliment more AI features into Firefox, I think it's abundantly clear that YOUR USERS DO NOT WANT THIS. AT ALL.

Like many other commenters have stated here, if Firefox does become "AI"-centric, I will uninstall and find a new, more secure, "AI"-free browser.

You are going to lose so, so, so many users for this.

[Art5]

It's disappointing to hear the AI doubledown by the CEO. Mozilla is a nonprofit, presumably that means it should be pushing for the interests of it's users. I understand why companies like google and microsoft want to peddle their snakeoil, it's another thing they can sell, but why is Mozilla wasting the money that should be going towards developing an alternative to chromium on something that doesn't holistically make the browser better? Why is unpopular stuff like this being not just being left to extensions? for years it's been tech cognizant nerds pushing for people to adopt firefox over chromium alternatives. If the push continues in this direction, what user base will be left?

[danniiiyyyl]

Frankly, I would rather defecate in my hands and clap, if it's all the same to you. I want AI in my browser like I want caesium in my water. 

There is little to no point in this. If people wanted some ugly, AI riddled browser they would - and do - go to one of the ugly, AI riddled Chromium browser. "As long as you can trust it" - give me a break. Your new CEO is either wilfully ignorant, in which case he shouldn't be your CEO, or he's a profit-driven money-grubbing liar, in which case he shouldn't be your CEO. The idea that anyone can trust AI is laughable. It's not a person. Don't be ridiculous. And certainly no one trusts companies that use it or, worse, laud it. Even Microsoft, a company with no self-preservation instinct, is pulling back from AI because people are shunning their awful AI tools. Larian, internet darlings who made a huge game, announced their intention to use gen AI and the internet has been dogwalking them all week for it. 

To come to the lame train this late in the game isn't just foolish, it's indolent. Like the .com bubble, NFTs, and crypto this is a pathetic flash-in-pan gimmick that people are already getting sick of. To pour resources into it, and waste money on it, in the hopes of making a few quick bucks while simultaneously burning the thousands, if not millions, who use this browser to get away from the AI slop that chromium is forcing on people is beyond reproach. 

I cannot abide narrow-minded, short-sighted nonsense in a company like this, that was founded thanks to Netscape developers rising up against Microsoft's "Embrace, Extend, Extinguish" strategy. Shame on you.

[PennyPM]

Ooof. Y'all, I've been using Mozilla Firefox since like 2008. Never before have I felt a drive to comment on a single thing y'all've done. At any time browser choice was questioned, I scoffed and truly felt I was using the best browser for my needs. This is a disappointment and a deal-breaker. I'll be testing out alternative browser options until I see firm and official word that any and all AI features are being put to rest permanently. AI features have only ever been foist upon me against my will and interest and I have taken any and every opportunity to remove them from my products and life. "Standing still while technology moves forward" implies that the technology itself has agency here, rather than the reality which is that you are an organization of people who are choosing to see AI as a technological way forward. Touch grass.