Mozilla has announced that the Firefox browser will soon allow users to block all current and future artificial intelligence features. The new feature arrives with Firefox 148, which will be released on February 24, 2026, and responds to mixed user reactions regarding the integration of AI into web browsers.
New AI controls section in settings
Starting with Firefox 148, users of the desktop version of the browser will find a new section called AI controls in the settings. Its main feature is a single toggle called "Block AI enhancements", which makes it possible to disable all AI features at once and remove related prompts and pop-ups.
For those who want to use some AI features but not others, Mozilla offers the option to configure individual features separately. The AI tools that can be controlled include:
- Translations – enable users to browse the web in their preferred language
- AI-generated alt text in PDFs – adds image descriptions for better accessibility
- AI tab grouping – suggests related tabs and group names
- Link previews – display key points before opening a link
- AI chatbot in the sidebar – supports tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and Le Chat Mistral
Ajit Varma of Mozilla said: "AI is changing the web, and people want very different things from it. We have heard from many who want nothing to do with AI. We have also heard from others who want AI tools that are genuinely useful."
New CEO and transparency strategy
The change comes after Anthony Enzor-DeMeo was appointed Mozilla's new CEO in December 2025. In his statement, Enzor-DeMeo clearly set out the company's direction: "AI should always be a choice – something people can easily turn off. People should know why a feature works the way it does and what value they get from it."
Mozilla's new chief emphasized three key principles:
- Every product must give people control – privacy, data use, and AI must be clear and understandable
- The business model must align with trust – growth through transparent monetization
- Firefox will expand from a browser into a broader ecosystem of trustworthy software
Enzor-DeMeo also noted that Mozilla faces growing competition in the browser market, where new AI-focused browsers are emerging from companies such as Perplexity, Arc, OpenAI, and Opera.
Billion-dollar investment in AI
Mozilla is not only adding the option to disable AI but is also investing in artificial intelligence transparency. According to information from CNBC, the company plans to deploy approximately CZK 35.6 billion from its reserves to support technology projects and nonprofit organizations focused on more responsible AI development. Mozilla President Mark Surman said he is building "a kind of rebel alliance" made up of technology startups, developers, and public-interest technologists committed to making AI more trustworthy and keeping the power of companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic in check.
The choice remains with users
Mozilla emphasizes that AI features remain optional and hidden by default when disabled. Once users set their AI preferences in Firefox, they will persist across updates. Users can change them at any time. The company also said that the AI controls will first be available in the Firefox Nightly test version, where users can try the feature and provide feedback through the Mozilla Connect platform.
