- According to Mozilla, Firefox will get an AI kill switch in early 2026
- The move is an attempt to appease users who are unhappy with artificial intelligence projects.
- Mozilla’s new CEO has revealed plans to turn Firefox into an “AI browser.”
Artificial intelligence is taking over the world, but not everyone likes it. This was clearly demonstrated by the quick response Mozilla received when the developer announced that they would add AI features to the Firefox browser, and now Mozilla has revealed its plan to appease angry users.
On December 16, Mozilla’s new CEO Anthony Enzor-DeMeo wrote: describe a plan Further developing Firefox into a “modern AI browser” that “supports a portfolio of new, robust software,” adding that the company would “invest in AI that reflects the Mozilla manifesto.”
It was a point in a larger article about his goal for one of the best browsers on the market, but many readers took issue with the mention of artificial intelligence and feared that Firefox would lose its identity by following the latest technology trends.
Now Mozilla has responded to the enthusiasm. Write on RedditEnzor-DeMeo explained that browsers should appeal to a wide range of people, before adding: “Rest assured, Firefox will always be a browser based on user control.” This includes artificial intelligence. You will of course be given the option to disable the AI features. A true “kill switch” will take place in the first quarter of 2026. Elections are important, and showing our commitment to elections is how we build and maintain trust. »
The next day, Jake Archibald, director of web developer relations at Mozilla, said: I went to see Mastodon to try to clarify the situation. “One thing hasn’t been made clear yet: Firefox will have the ability to completely disable all AI features,” Archibald wrote. “Also, all AI features will be optional… The kill switch will remove all these things completely and not show them in the future. That’s it.”
Restore trust
Firefox has long attracted users precisely because it stands out from the competition. Unlike most browsers on the market, it is not based on Google’s Chromium engine and a conscious effort is made to be as privacy friendly as possible. In fact, it’s our pick as the most secure browser on the market.
Its principles have attracted people concerned about modern developments in artificial intelligence, both because of the confusion AI can create for a browser and because of concerns about the technology’s impact on jobs, creativity and intellectual property rights.
I’ve used Firefox continuously for over 20 years, and one of the things that convinced me to keep using it is its long-standing commitment to privacy. There are a few bumps along the way, but nothing like the privacy issues plaguing Google Chrome. In my case, at least the trust was maintained.
But it is precisely this trust that is threatened by the push for AI. AI algorithms are a black box over which users have no control, and it’s currently impossible to know exactly how Mozilla plans to implement these AI elements.
Perhaps the biggest problem is the lack of information in Enzor-DeMeo’s original post. What is meant by “AI browser” and “new, reliable software portfolio” is never specified, leaving people to fill in the blanks. The sooner Mozilla clears up its plans, the sooner it can regain trust and reassure its users that it won’t steal Firefox’s soul in its pursuit of AI innovation.
