Mozilla has announced a significant update to Firefox that will give users unprecedented control over artificial intelligence features in their browser. Starting with Firefox 148, rolling out on February 24, 2026, users will be able to completely block all current and future generative AI features, marking a notable shift in how browsers approach AI integration and user choice.
New AI Controls Section
The upcoming Firefox 148 update introduces a dedicated AI controls section within the desktop browser settings, providing users with granular control over their AI experience. The centerpiece of these new controls is a “Block AI enhancements” toggle that, when activated, prevents users from seeing pop-ups, reminders, or prompts related to any AI features.
This comprehensive blocking mechanism extends beyond current AI features to include future AI implementations, ensuring that users who opt out won’t be surprised by new AI functionality in subsequent updates. The approach represents Mozilla’s commitment to user choice and privacy in an era where AI features are increasingly being integrated into web browsers without explicit user consent.
Beyond the blanket blocking option, Firefox 148 also allows users to manage AI features individually, providing flexibility for those who want some AI functionality while avoiding others. This granular approach acknowledges that different users have varying comfort levels and use cases for AI technology.
Available AI Features and Controls
The new control system manages several existing and planned AI features within Firefox. The “Translations” feature, which allows users to browse the web in their preferred language, can be individually controlled, as can Alt text generation in PDFs, which automatically creates descriptions for images in PDF documents.
AI-enhanced tab grouping, which uses machine learning to organize browser tabs intelligently, is another feature that can be managed through the new controls. Link previews powered by AI and Firefox’s AI chatbot sidebar, which provides access to various AI services including Anthropic Claude, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and Le Chat Mistral, are also subject to the new control system.
This comprehensive approach ensures that users have visibility and control over every aspect of AI integration in their browsing experience, from basic translation services to advanced conversational AI capabilities.
Mozilla’s Philosophy on AI Choice
The announcement reflects Mozilla’s broader philosophy regarding AI implementation in consumer software. “AI is changing the web, and people want very different things from it,” the company stated in its blog post announcing the feature. “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.”
This user-centric approach contrasts with many other browser developers who have integrated AI features with limited opt-out options. Mozilla’s decision to provide comprehensive AI controls demonstrates the company’s commitment to user agency and choice in an increasingly AI-driven digital landscape.
The company’s listening to community feedback has directly influenced this development, showing how user concerns about unwanted AI features can drive meaningful product changes when companies prioritize user preferences over feature adoption metrics.
Leadership and Strategic Direction
The AI controls announcement comes under the leadership of Mozilla’s new CEO, Anthony Enzor-DeMeo, who was appointed in December 2025. Enzor-DeMeo has been clear about Mozilla’s approach to AI integration, stating that “AI should always be a choice something people can easily turn off.”
His leadership philosophy emphasizes transparency and user control: “People should know why a feature works the way it does and what value they get from it.” This approach represents a significant departure from the typical tech industry practice of implementing AI features by default and requiring users to discover and navigate complex settings to disable them.
Enzor-DeMeo’s vision for Mozilla includes significant AI investment, but with a fundamental commitment to making these features optional rather than mandatory, setting Mozilla apart from competitors who often integrate AI features with limited user control.
Competitive Landscape and Market Response
Mozilla’s approach to AI controls comes as the browser market faces renewed competition from AI-focused companies. Traditional browsers like Firefox and Google Chrome are now competing with innovative platforms from companies such as Perplexity, Arc, OpenAI, and Opera, many of which integrate AI features as core functionality rather than optional add-ons.
The company is also building what Mozilla President Mark Surman describes as “a rebel alliance of sorts,” consisting of tech startups, developers, and public-interest technologists committed to making AI more trustworthy and checking the power of dominant AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic.
Mozilla plans to deploy approximately $1.4 billion in reserves to support tech businesses and nonprofits that promote AI transparency and push back against the rapid, largely unregulated growth of major AI companies.
Privacy and Transparency Implications
The introduction of comprehensive AI controls aligns with Mozilla’s long-standing commitment to user privacy and transparency. By giving users the ability to completely opt out of AI features, Mozilla is addressing growing concerns about data collection, processing, and the potential privacy implications of AI-powered browser functionality.
This approach also addresses concerns about AI features potentially changing user behavior or browsing patterns without explicit consent. Users who prefer traditional browsing experiences can now ensure their Firefox installation remains free of AI influence while still receiving security updates and other non-AI improvements.
The granular control system also allows privacy-conscious users to make informed decisions about which AI features, if any, provide sufficient value to justify their potential privacy implications.
Firefox 148’s AI controls represent a significant step forward in user empowerment and choice in the AI era, potentially setting a new standard for how browser developers should approach AI feature integration and user consent.
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