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.

[beryllium]

Since the company seems to be set on charging ahead with this, let me point folks to a project that might help:

https://justthebrowser.com/

This project will apply group policies to your browser that instruct it to not use features like generative AI.

The default policy it comes with for Firefox also disables telemetry, though, which means that Mozilla's executive team will continue to make "data-driven" decisions that are completely divorced from logic and long-term health of the browser & all internet users. Assuming they look at numbers and feedback at all, which I'm not convinced they do.

[Meem55]

Thought for Mozilla: by now I understand the AI part will be an Opt-In feature and that the AI part will be completely not there when choosing not to Opt-In.
You realise that there will be a very strong scrutiny by your userbase and others? And when they find AI-connected parts (even dormant parts) while not choosing the Opt-In, Firefox will loose all credibility?
Trust is completely gone then.

I still don't understand this decision by Mozilla. Just look at the numbers. A recent big study (source ) shows that, in countries all over the world, only 16% is exited about AI, 42% is so-so about it, and 34% is concerned.
And this trend is visible everywhere, especially in the EU.

[JustStopAISucks]

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@Jolie wrote:

We’ve heard from many of you who’d prefer not to have AI in your browser at all, and we get it

No, you don't get it.  But you will, when we all stop using Fx.  You're hearing us, but you're not listening to us.  WE are in charge, not you.  We don't want AI.  If you want to build a separate AI version of Fx, that's fine. But the core Fx should remain AI-free.

Ignore us at your own peril.

[serotonin139]

I am so disappointed that Firefox is now going the same route as others in including features nobody wants. Don't be like Netflix with their stupid games, or Spotify with the podcasts. You want to offer AI features? Fine, make an add-on or plugin. I think you are underestimating how many users you are going to alienate (and lose) by incorporating this. Trust is very difficult to rebuild once it's lost. Don't do it. Please. 

[sb1326]

So many people are already adopting AI and all we want is ONE browser without it. At all. No AI. It simply is not necessary.

[williamt]

One concern I have, even if there's the ability to turn AI features off, is how much "bloat" they potentially add to the size of the application etc - and therefore potential lag, sluggishness etc.

It would be useful to have reassurance that if you "turn AI off", then nothing is actually loaded into memory, to the extent that if you decide you want to use it in future, enabling it also requires a full restart.

[uxfail]

<<standing still while technology moves forward>>  AI is not moving forward, it is moving backward.  Standing still is better than moving backward.  This sort of corporate doubespeak only erodes trust and confidence.  
<<we see it as our responsibility to shape how AI integrates into the web, in ways that promote openness, transparency, and choice>>  Oh really?  Firefox has been feeding my personal information from my browser into some AI engine without asking my permission, and I'm supposed to trust anything you say now?

[Thenuinn]

Maybe you shouldn't give us a button to turn off AI features but a button to turn them on. Asking before you do something is basic manners. 

[Bane]

Just joining everyone in saying :

Please stop. We don't want AI. AI does NOT serve the users, it only serves the wealthy billionaire class and their drones.

Focus on keeping Firefox special for what makes it special. Stop chasing trends.