Firefox Will Let Users Turn AI Features Off With New Control Switch
Mozilla is preparing to give Firefox users something increasingly rare in modern browsers: a simple way to turn artificial intelligence features off entirely.
Starting with an update scheduled for February 24, Firefox will introduce a new “AI control” section in its settings menu. The option will allow users to disable all AI-powered features at once or selectively turn individual tools on or off, including access to built-in AI chatbots, translation tools, AI-generated tab group suggestions, and other emerging features.
The move sets Firefox apart from rivals such as Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, which have steadily expanded AI integration with fewer options for opting out. Mozilla’s approach reflects a broader effort to position Firefox as a browser that emphasizes user control and trust as AI becomes more deeply embedded in everyday web use.
A Response to Growing User Pushback
Over the past year, Firefox has expanded its own AI offerings. The browser introduced features such as “shake to summarize,” which allows iPhone users to generate AI-powered summaries of webpages, and has been developing an opt-in “AI Window” designed to assist with search, browsing, and information discovery using an AI assistant.
Those additions, however, were not universally welcomed. Some longtime Firefox users voiced frustration over the browser’s increasing reliance on AI, prompting Mozilla leadership to reconsider how those tools are presented.
In December, Mozilla CEO Anthony Enzor-DeMeo publicly acknowledged the backlash and promised an AI “kill switch.” At the time, he emphasized that maintaining user choice was critical to preserving trust in the Firefox brand.
“Choice matters, and demonstrating our commitment to choice is how we build and maintain trust,” Enzor-DeMeo wrote in response to user concerns.
The upcoming AI control feature fulfills that promise. According to Mozilla, the switch will not only apply to current AI capabilities but will also cover future AI features, giving users a single place to manage how much — if any — artificial intelligence is involved in their browsing experience.
Granular Control Over AI Tools
Beyond a global on-off option, Firefox’s new settings panel will let users fine-tune specific AI functions. Users can decide whether Firefox is allowed to generate AI-based alt text for images in PDFs, create key point summaries in link previews, or provide chatbot-style assistance during browsing sessions.
Mozilla says the goal is not to force AI into the browser, but to offer it as an optional toolset that adapts to individual preferences.
“AI is changing the web, and people want very different things from it,” said Ajit Varma, Firefox’s vice president of product, in an announcement accompanying the update. “We’ve heard from many who want nothing to do with AI. We’ve also heard from others who want AI tools that are genuinely useful.”
Listening to that feedback, Varma added, led Mozilla to design controls that put decisions about AI use firmly in the hands of the user.
Positioning Firefox in an AI-Heavy Browser Market
As major tech companies race to redefine browsers around AI assistants and automated features, Mozilla has attempted to strike a middle ground. The organization continues to invest in AI-driven tools while emphasizing transparency, opt-in design, and user agency — principles it argues are increasingly important as AI reshapes how people interact with the web.
Whether Firefox’s approach will resonate with users wary of AI remains to be seen. But by offering a clear and comprehensive way to turn those features off, Mozilla is signaling that participation in the AI-powered web does not have to be mandatory.
