- Mozilla says Firefox will get AI kill switch in early 2026
- The move is an attempt to reassure users angry about its AI plans.
- New Mozilla CEO revealed plans to turn Firefox into an ‘AI browser’
AI is taking over the world, but not everyone likes it. This was well demonstrated by the rapid response Mozilla received when the developer announced it would add AI features to the Firefox browser – and now, Mozilla has revealed its plan to appease angry users.
In a December 16 post, new Mozilla CEO Anthony Enzor-DeMeo outlined a plan to evolve Firefox into “a modern AI browser” that “will support a portfolio of new and trusted software,” adding that the company would “invest in AI that reflects the Mozilla Manifesto.”
It was a point in a broader article about its goals for one of the best web browsers on the market, but many readers took issue with its mention of AI and worried that Firefox would lose its identity by chasing the latest technology trends.
Now, Mozilla has responded to the furor. Writing on Reddit, Enzor-DeMeo explained that web browsers need to appeal to a wide range of people, before adding: “Rest assured, Firefox will always be a browser built around user control. This includes AI. You will have a clear way to disable AI features. A real kill switch will arrive in the first quarter of 2026. Choice matters and demonstrating our commitment to choice is how we build and maintain trust.”
The next day, Jake Archibald, head of web developer relations at Mozilla, spoke to Mastodon to try to clarify the situation. “Something that hasn’t been clarified: Firefox will have the option to completely disable all AI features,” Archibald wrote. “All AI features will also be optional…the kill switch will absolutely remove all of that and never show it again in the future. That’s unambiguous.”
Restore trust
Firefox has long attracted users precisely because it stands out from its competitors. Unlike most browsers, it’s not based on Google’s Chromium engine and deliberately strives to be as privacy-friendly as possible. Indeed, it is our choice as the most secure browser on the market.
Its principles have attracted people concerned about modern developments in AI, whether it’s the clutter that AI can add to a browser or concerns about how the technology will affect employment, creativity and intellectual property.
I’ve been using Firefox continuously for over 20 years now, and one of the things that has convinced me to stick with it is its long-standing commitment to privacy. It’s hit a few bumps along the way, but nothing like the privacy issues plaguing Google Chrome. In my case at least, trust was maintained.
Yet it is precisely this trust that the push toward AI threatens. AI algorithms are a black box that users have no visibility into, and at this time it is impossible to know exactly how Mozilla plans to implement these AI elements.
Perhaps the biggest sticking point is the lack of information in Enzor-DeMeo’s original post. What is meant by “AI browser” and “portfolio of new and reliable software” is never specified, leaving people’s anxiety to fill the void. The sooner Mozilla can clarify its plans, the sooner it can regain trust and reassure its users that it isn’t killing Firefox’s soul in the hunt for AI innovation.
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