Mozilla adding option to disable generative AI features in Firefox browser

MANILA, Philippines – Mozilla announced on Monday, February 2 (February 3, Philippine time) it would be adding an AI controls section within its Firefox desktop browser settings that would allow users to either fully disable or pick and choose which generative artificial intelligence features they want while the browser is active.

The AI controls section, which will arrive with the rollout of Firefox 148 on February 24, comes with the understanding that not everyone wants AI on their browser.

Firefox head Ajit Varma acknowledged as much in a blog post announcing the feature, saying “AI is changing the web, and people want very different things from it. 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.”

Individual or complete AI toggles

Varma said the Firefox 148 rollout will allow users to enable or disable the following settings individually using the AI controls section:

• Translations, which help you browse the web in your preferred language.
• Alt text in PDFs, which add accessibility descriptions to images in PDF pages.
• AI-enhanced tab grouping, which suggests related tabs and group names.
• Link previews, which show key points before you open a link.
• AI chatbot in the sidebar, which lets you use your chosen chatbot as you browse, including options like Anthropic Claude, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and Le Chat Mistral.

There will also be a Block AI enhancements toggle that turns off pop-ups and reminders to use existing or upcoming AI features on the browser.

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A BleepingComputer report noted a statement from a Mozilla spokesperson saying, “When AI controls become available, the Block AI enhancements toggle will be off by default.”

The spokesperson added, “AI controls will reflect your existing choices in Firefox: Features you have previously used will appear as Enabled. Features you have previously turned off will appear as Blocked. Features you have not used before will appear as Available.”

Giving people agency

The development of the AI controls feature comes after Mozilla Corporation CEO Anthony Enzor-DeMeo wrote in December 2025 about the direction Mozilla wanted to take towards becoming a trusted software company.

The first tenet of this was that every product Mozilla builds “must give people agency in how it works.”

“Privacy, data use, and AI must be clear and understandable. Controls must be simple. 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,” Enzor-DeMeo said. – Rappler.com