Firefox 148 Lets You Turn AI Features Off Completely

While tech giants race to stuff AI into every app and website, Mozilla is doing something unexpected. The company just announced that Firefox users will soon have the power to turn off AI features completely.

Firefox 148 launches later this month with granular controls that let people manage or disable individual AI tools. Users can choose whether they want AI-powered translations, automatic tab grouping, or a sidebar with access to chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. The choice is entirely theirs.

Mozilla calls its approach a "rebel alliance" against the winner-takes-all mentality dominating AI development. Mark Surman, Mozilla Foundation president, says the goal is to bend history in a different direction. The company wants to do for AI what it once did in the early days of the web: offer an alternative focused on user control.

This strategy isn't just talk. Mozilla plans to spend about $650 million this year, with 80% maintaining core products like Firefox and the rest investing in trustworthy AI. The company has another $1.4 billion in reserves ready for worthy projects like open-source AI tools and encrypted assistants.

Firefox now has more than 200 million users who value choice over forced features. Mozilla is betting many more people feel the same way about AI. The company recently launched a program inviting technologists to explore early-stage ideas for responsible tech innovation.

The Ripple Effect

Mozilla's stand matters beyond Firefox users. When a major tech company says users deserve control over AI, it challenges the assumption that AI must be everywhere, always on. Other companies might follow suit if they see demand for AI-optional experiences.

The fight isn't equal. Mozilla's billion-dollar budget looks tiny compared to the hundreds of billions rivals spend on AI each year. But the company isn't trying to out-spend tech giants. It's offering something they won't: the right to say no.

Mozilla proves there's another path forward where AI serves people who want it without forcing itself on those who don't.