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.

[neopandora]

I've been using Firefox because of privacy and not showing AI down my throat. Now that it's changed, I'm probably switching to another browser. We don't need AI in everything. In fact, it's useless for most things, uses resources we can't spare and is a bubble that will burst sooner than later. Shooting yourselves in the foot with this, guys.

[Mihnik]

It's deeply dissatisfying you'd prefer implementing a resource-demanding, glorified auto-complete that's plagarizing, prone to hallucinating and flat out lying; moreover, it is a major security problem that can be easily exploited.

Reconsider it, unless you want to speedrun bleeding your users. Which would be a shame, I've been using Firefox for quite some years, but even if it would come to switching to something else, I prefer the security and less bloat than the fad bubble that's nearly burst.

[mleb]

I disagree with adding AI browser features. Most people I know disable every AI feature they have access to because its useless and adds unnecessary bloat. Firefox's advantage over other browsers has always been in its streamlined privacy-focused approach, AI features are not consistent with what your users want.

[sb1326]

Can you just. Not have AI at all. Like come ON there is basically no major provider without AI now and there is CLEARLY demand for apps and programs that are maintaining a strict no-AI stance. Firefox doesn’t need AI, and you’re alienating a user base that has come to Firefox as an application that has previously refused to “follow the crowd”. Just stop. Please. Before we all jump ship.

[Draumesaud]

Every week there's a new AI feature to disable, and they just keep coming. Tab groups using AI, sidebar using AI, both actively tanking the browser's performance until I fully disabled them, and now a whole-ass AI window. Remove all the AI in regular Firefox and make a separate AI-Fox browser if you desperately want to keep using these useless tools that have at large made the Internet a worse and less safe space to browse. I've been a champion for Firefox for many years, but this truly is the last straw for me, and I can't recommend Firefox in good conscience anymore. I will be switching browsers.

[rat671]

I will never use a browser with an AI component. Because mozilla has stated they will pursue AI, I’m now looking for alternatives.

[Archiewhite]

What people want is a switch that is off by default and until it is not flicked on there are no AI features in the browser at all.

[MoreOrLess]

If this browser goes down this path, then I'm moving elsewhere. As it stands, if AI is the future for this browser, then that future is going to be sans a significant number of users. 

[Ñeñe]

This is so disappointing. Why would you want to alienate your userbase for a glorified text prediction tool that is actively worsening the climate crisis, destroying jobs and the creative industries, exacerbating inequality, aiding the spread of fascism, and generally creating more and worse problems than it can solve? Make it make sense. This is such a bad move, I thought you guys were more clever than this. If you go down this path, I'm out. 

[FrackAI987]

Cool, so the last browser that’s avoided hitting itself in the **bleep** with a hammer has decided its hammer time. **bleep** all the way off. 

[ZehDwarf]

I use Firefox because of the lack of AI-driven Bloatware that slows down and impacts my internet experience. Even with "Options to turn off" it's still going to negatively affect the user experience. 

This is Hype chasing, while Firefox has the ability to be on the right side of this shift in tech history, you have chosen to throw in with the worst of the data-mining, privacy violating, AI Fiends. 

[brdofths]

I am astonished at the ignorance on display here. I abandoned Chrome for Firefox to get away from AI integration. This is not something users want. 

"standing still while technology moves forward doesn’t benefit the web or the people who use it."

Are you listening to yourself? Generative AI is not moving forward. It's a stagnant quagmire that's actively hurting the internet. It routinely fails to do what it purports to do and spreads dangerous misinformation. Making it opt-in doesn't change the fact that by embracing it, you're contributing to the problem.

[uniquecrash5]

No. Just no. Stop it. 

[tiredzoe]

id rather burn my own house down with my entire family in it than have ai integration on firefox

[Caspar123]

YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO DESTROY THE AI-FUELED BROWSERS, NOT JOIN THEM!!!

[eeschu01]

If you add AI features, they need to be easier to disable than anything else on here. I need to be able to trust that my privacy is not being violated just by using this browser, one that I use for better privacy. AI needs to not be reading anything on my phone. In fact, don't make it turn on before I can disable it - if it has to be here, it must be manually enabled. I did not consent to this. 

[NotSoCheezy]

You are not going to attract new users by doing the same crap every other browser is doing. All this AI stuff accomplishes is alienating the only people who still liked you: rebels.

You know why I use Firefox, despite the downsides on an increasingly Chromium-powered web? It's got more powerful extension support, both on desktop and on mobile. It's a platform not focused on cramming ads down my throat. It's not for whatever... *this* is.

Honestly, at this point if Safari was on Linux and Android I'd probably switch to that. Very disappointing. Put the environmentally destructive lying machine away and fix some of your many, many bugs instead.

[cosmolark]

I'll be real with you. I am not trying to be rude, but this is extremely unwanted and tone deaf. 

[Minthe]

Can you please just not?  Would it not be better to be one of the few that dont try to push AI slop?? Thats the whole reason people are using firefox now! Why ruin the trust of loyal users for nothing? Push AI and me an everyone i know is just gonna move to something else.

[meowmixkitkat]

are y'all out of your minds? are you insane? are you just that **bleep**ing tone-deaf? you're not "standing still while technology moves forward" if you reject AI; you're refusing to buy into a dangerous fad. did you guys eat tide pods because to not do so would be "standing still while society moves forward?" 

you asked for input. well here's my **bleep**ing two cents, for all that you don't seem to actually give a **bleep** about the opinions of users anymore: your plans are dog**bleep** and i want no part of them. i'd sooner become a full luddite and never search anything again than continue to use your ever-degrading service as it plummets into expensive and environment-destroying uselessness. none of what this atrocious AI nonsense does is new! we do not need an AI to "help while [we] browse," we do not need a stupid integrated "assistant," and in a time where AI is replacing actual people's jobs, i do not **bleep**ing want to interact with it! in any capacity! i do not want to support it! i do not want to be faced with the crap that people are touting as the best new thing, when all it is at the most is gold leaf-coated scum from the inside of a sewer!! i do not understand how you can be faced with so much vitriol for this fad and think that it's in any way a good idea to integrate it into anything, much less the browser people switch to in order to move away from this exact type of bloatware!!  is anyone hearing us at Mozilla?? are you even listening??? your CORE USER BASE DOES NOT WANT THIS!!!

[almonds]

You seem to be under the lmpression that you don't understand the reason why me and a lot of users chose Firefox above Chrome and Microsoft Edge: the ability to not have to engage with AI bull**bleep**. You take that away and become like the other browsers and we have no choice but to jump to the next non-AI alternative, since you're so willfully dense about it. There's people in the comments who can explain it better than I can why AI isn't merely an annoying fad but also a destructive force to user experience in general, but I'll make it clear: we don't want it and we WILL drop you if you push this non-sense unto your users, guaranteed.

[mrvalane]

I will be looking for alternatives following this terrible decision. 

[Hasenloewin]

NOOOO, don't do it, please! Firefox is THE browser for me since it exists and I don't want to loose it to AI!!! Honestly I beg you, be the one beacon that keeps standing tall without **bleep** f****** AI, seriously!!

But if you keep being blind and insist on adding it, make it entirely optional and OFF by DEFAULT! Otherwise that day will be a very sad goodbye for me.

[thexphial]

If I wanted AI features I would seek them out and download them myself. This is a terrible idea and I really hope you pay attention to the community that actually uses your product. At least have it be an opt in option rather than opt out.

[julianna]

Nobody wants this. Literally no one. People use Firefox because it's the least bad option. Now you're just the same as the ones we've been avoiding. This will drive the majority of your users away. Have fun ruining your market for a garbage-spewing resource-guzzling overhyped piece of trash.

[julianna]

how have you gotten the impression that anybody wants this **bleep**

[MisterMachine]

I only just started using Firefox again this year after abandoning Chrome due to its intrusive, bloated, harmful AI garbage became inescapable. Now that Firefox is following suit I'll be leaving it soon as well for the same reason. It was nice while it lasted.

[alltoomuch]

I am sick of the AI bull**bleep**. If you keep pushing this crap, I will dump Firefox faster than my cat leaves a deposit in his litter box.

[wysticlipse]

I have used firefox since 2004.

I will use something else if you follow through on this.

[Careful_Knives]

This is my first post here despite using Firefox for 20 years now.
I refuse to support AI. I was this close to abandoning Firefox (with heavy heart) when I saw first AI tools appear. I already did the same for other businesses I supported over the years, such as Duolingo. As soon as AI appears I'm out. AI is predatory, AI contributes greatly to negative climate change. I will not be a part of that, I will always disable it or find another alternative, even if it's more costly or of lesser quality.

Frankly I'm appalled that you're even considering this. Even Microsoft is seeing a huge decline in sales because no one wants AI assistant to help them solve problems, they're often wrong and frustrating to deal with, not to mention taking a lot of valuable 'space' on devices. 

In fact I think you could make a successful come back as the top browser by investing into being anti-AI, helping users identifying fake photos, videos and news. Many people get 'tricked' by AI generated content, AI is used to even scam people - why contributing to the problem when you can dedicate the same energy to be a part of the solution? Especially since your users actively state that the main appeal of Firefox and Mozilla was the lack of AI?

I'm sorry you're doing this. I can't stop you, I can only show my disagreement by leaving. If you continue to develop useless AI just to follow a dangerous, predatory trend then I'm out.

I hope you'll listen to us. 

[butter-boo]

This is well put! I want to second the strong feelings on the climate impact of ai. Even when companies claim their ai will be ethical, they seem to always fail to adress this

[butter-boo]

What a waste of time and money. I've been a Firefox advocate for over a decade, but this announcement has me considering other browser options. 

[skelal]

really disappointing to have made the effort to switch to firefox only for this new CEO to wipe his ass with it. why is it that every other week i have to come across posts informing me you people put another useless garbage AI feature into the browser, followed by instructions on how to disable it in a page the average user doesn't know how to access? i don't want to have the "option" to turn AI features off either, i want my browser to not have any AI in it PERIOD. i refuse to be part of this stupid tech trend that is running entirely on imaginary winnings, that is artificially hiking up market prices on computer parts, making the internet so much worse and unreliable, destroying our privacy, and ruining the goddamn planet besides.

your responsibility is to provide a browser that works. apparently this is really difficult, as you're giving everybody the finger in response to criticism instead. with this you've shown me your company cares little for the morals that got me to make the switch to firefox in the first place, so suffice it to say that i no longer have any loyalty to it. i won't hesitate to switch to a different browser that doesn't force AI on its users. stop hype-chasing and listen to your userbase: remove the AI features from your browser. no opt-in or opt-out. just get rid of it. it is not wanted.

i am sick and tired of having to switch services for just about anything i use in my day-to-day life because the company that owns it decided following fake technological trends is more important than providing a functioning product and listening to its userbase.

[Ummorgan]

Nobody wants this. If there isn't an option to completely disable AI functions, then I will be switching browsers. 

[ihateaisomuch]

my feedback is don't you dare do this PLEASE for god's sake. AI is ruining the internet and I will switch browsers if you add this slop to Firefox. better yet I'll set my entire computer on fire and go live in the woods. Jesus Christ.

[eibborn]

Most people don't need or want AI assistance to look at webpages. What an absurd tack for Mozilla to take-pure trend-chasing.

[steaks]

Cool I'm immediately leaving Firefox when AI options are implemented, this sucks and literally goes against everything Firefox used to stand for 

[acturchan]

absolutely not. i only use firefox because of the LACK of AI. ai is NOT user friendly. if ai features are incorporated i will stop using this browser.

[mis2]

We don't want ai features. Even if I can turn them off I find with firefox and with my search engines that they turn back on without my permission.  I switched to firefox because of googles ai, I switched search engines multiple times because of ai, and its incredibly disappointing but not surprising to see so many companies follow the path of greed including this one.

[Mikko1234]

Will you provide a version of Firefox that doesn't have any AI in it? I don't mean that the AI is disabled by default or opt-in or whatever, I mean no AI features. Zero. None.

If not, anyone got recommendations for a browser that supports some version of uBlock and doesn't have AI?