Mozilla is set to give users far greater control over artificial intelligence features in its browser, with Firefox 148 introducing a dedicated AI controls panel that allows users to disable all generative AI tools integrated into the browser.
According to Mozilla, the new controls will appear in the desktop browser settings when Firefox 148 rolls out later this month. The move reflects growing user concern around privacy, data usage, and the expanding role of AI inside everyday software tools.
The AI controls section will allow users to turn off Firefox’s generative AI features entirely, rather than managing them individually. These features include AI-powered writing assistance, summarisation tools, and contextual help functions that Mozilla has been gradually testing and deploying across recent Firefox releases.
Mozilla says the change is designed to reinforce its long-standing position on user choice and transparency, particularly as generative AI becomes more deeply embedded in consumer technology. Unlike some competitors that enable AI features by default with limited opt-out options, Firefox is aiming to make AI usage explicit and user-directed.
The company has faced increasing pressure from privacy advocates and everyday users who are uncomfortable with AI tools operating in the background or interacting with browsing activity. While Mozilla has maintained that its AI features are privacy-conscious and avoid unnecessary data collection, the new controls acknowledge that many users prefer a browser experience with no AI involvement at all.
Firefox 148’s update comes amid a broader debate in the tech industry over AI defaults. Browser makers and operating system developers are racing to integrate generative AI as a core feature, but user resistance has grown alongside concerns about surveillance, content reliability, and system performance.
By centralising AI management in one settings panel, Mozilla is signalling that AI is optional, not mandatory, even as it continues to invest in AI-powered tools for users who want them. The company has not indicated any plans to remove AI features entirely, but the update makes clear that opting out will be simple and comprehensive.
Firefox 148 is expected to arrive on desktop platforms later in February, with Mozilla likely to expand similar AI control options to other versions of the browser in future releases.
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