SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 3, 2026, 01:29 (PST)
- Firefox 148, arriving Feb. 24, introduces new “AI controls”
- The new “Block AI enhancements” toggle allows you to disable both existing and future generative AI features
- Users can still control features like translations, link previews, and sidebar chatbots on an individual basis
Mozilla revealed plans to add a single switch in Firefox that blocks all its built-in generative AI features, plus new options to turn individual AI tools on or off. “AI is changing the web, and people want very different things from it,” Firefox product chief Ajit Varma wrote in a company blog post. Mozilla
The timing is no accident. Browser makers rush to embed generative AI—tools that churn out text and summaries from prompts—yet some users are already pushing back against these new features appearing where they browse, search, and read.
Mozilla is making its stance clear: you don’t need AI to enjoy a complete browsing experience. They’re framing this step as a way to give users more control as AI features become a standard part of everyday software.
Firefox is rolling out a new AI controls page in its desktop settings to handle “current and future” generative AI features, reports TechCrunch. Anthony Enzor-DeMeo, who took over as CEO last December, has emphasized easy opt-outs, saying, “AI should always be a choice — something people can easily turn off.” These controls will debut with Firefox 148 on Feb. 24. Techcrunch
Mozilla said the launch includes controls covering tools such as translations, AI-generated “alt text” for PDFs (which provide accessibility descriptions for images), AI-assisted tab grouping, and link previews that surface key points before you even open a page.
The browser now includes an AI chatbot tucked into the sidebar, capable of linking up with third-party assistants like Anthropic’s Claude, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and Le Chat Mistral, Gizmodo reports. Mozilla told Gizmodo, “This lets you use Firefox without AI while we continue to build AI features for those who want them.” Gizmodo
Mozilla confirmed that turning off the master toggle blocks both pop-ups and AI feature prompts, and these settings persist across updates. Users retain the ability to change them at any time.
Mozilla is ramping up AI features to carve out its own space in the browser market. Over the past year, Firefox has rolled out various AI tools and, like bigger competitors, is weaving AI deeper into its browser. This rollout includes AI-powered summaries on mobile and an opt-in “AI Window” feature, The Verge reports. Theverge
Following user pushback over its shift toward AI under new leadership, Mozilla has rolled out an “off” switch. This feature lets users easily disable all AI functions at once, so they don’t have to hunt down each one separately.
But there are compromises. Disabling chatbots and previews also disables features Mozilla has highlighted, such as translations and accessibility text in PDFs. And for most users, this update won’t arrive until the rollout on Feb. 24.
Mozilla confirmed it plans to keep rolling out AI features for users who want them, while also adding new controls to ensure those who wish to opt out have a reliable way to do so.
