Firefox adds a switch to turn off the use of AI-generated features
Mozilla has announced that it will introduce an 'AI controls' feature in its Firefox browser that will allow users to manage the use of generative AI features. This feature will be added to the desktop settings menu starting with Firefox 148, scheduled for release on February 24, 2026. Users of the development version, Firefox Nightly, will be able to try out the feature early.
AI controls are coming to Firefox
Introducing AI controls in Firefox - YouTube
Firefox is adding a switch to turn AI features off | The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/news/872489/mozilla-firefox-ai-features-off-button
Mozilla announced its intention to turn Firefox into an AI browser, but after receiving criticism from users, it was reported that it was developing a kill switch that would allow users to disable the AI features.
Firefox is developing an 'AI kill switch' that completely disables AI features - GIGAZINE
The highlight of AI controls is a global toggle called 'Block AI enhancements.' Enabling this will consistently disable all current and future generative AI features, and will also prevent pop-ups and reminders from appearing. Your settings will persist across browser updates.
Users can also individually select and manage AI features, such as a translation feature that allows users to view web pages in their preferred language, an alt text generator that adds accessibility descriptions to images in PDFs, an AI tab grouping feature that suggests related tabs and group names, a link preview feature that allows users to preview the key points of a link before they arrive, and a sidebar that allows users to use major chatbots such as Google Gemini, ChatGPT, Anthropic Claude, and Microsoft Copilot.
In addition, some features use small AI models that run on the user's device rather than in the cloud, protecting privacy. Mozilla CEO Anthony Enzo Demio said, 'AI should always be a user choice,' and explained that the company decided to introduce this kill switch control feature in response to feedback from users who do not want AI.
Mozilla plans to invest approximately $1.4 billion (approximately 210 billion yen) in contingency funds to build trustworthy AI, support technology companies, and promote transparency. Meanwhile, in the US market, competition in the enterprise AI field is becoming increasingly fierce, with cloud data company Snowflake announcing a $200 million (approximately 30 billion yen) partnership with OpenAI.
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