Mozilla Announces AI Disable Controls for Firefox

Mozilla announced on Monday a new set of controls for its Firefox browser that will allow users to disable artificial intelligence features, addressing concerns from those wary of AI integration in everyday browsing.

The update, part of Firefox version 148, is scheduled for public release on February 24. It introduces a dedicated AI controls section in the desktop browser's settings menu, where users can toggle off all AI enhancements with a single switch or manage individual features. When activated, the "Block AI enhancements" option will prevent existing and future AI tools from appearing, including any popups or reminders promoting their use. Preferences will persist across browser updates, ensuring users maintain their chosen level of involvement without repeated interventions.

The controls cover several AI-powered functionalities already in Firefox or planned for rollout. These include a sidebar chatbot that integrates with services such as Anthropic's Claude, OpenAI's ChatGPT, Microsoft's Copilot, Google's Gemini, and Mistral's Le Chat; on-device web page translations to enable browsing in preferred languages; AI-enhanced tab grouping for organizing open tabs; link...