Mozilla has pledged to create a master “kill switch” that allows users to disable all AI features in Firefox. The move comes in response to criticism sparked by new CEO Anthony Enzor-DeMeo’s comments about repositioning Firefox as a “modern AI browser,” which worried many privacy-focused users.
New Mozilla boss Enzor-DeMeo sketched out a future where Firefox grows beyond a browser into a wider ecosystem of “trusted software,” leaning on the brand’s reputation. He talked up transparency and user choice on AI, but made clear the company still needs to make money.
Firefox’s AI push didn’t land well with some of its most loyal users. Detractors argue that tools like integrated chatbots and LLMs are basically “black boxes,” at odds with Mozilla’s tradition of openness and user control. The idea of agentic AI browsers has also raised wider alarms about web security.
The discontent echoed views from other browser developers. Vivaldi has resisted aggressive AI integration, and several browsers built on Firefox’s open-source code have explicitly rejected that direction. Waterfox’s developers said the browser will include no LLMs, “full stop,” while Pale Moon’s lead developer said there are no plans to introduce AI features.
After the criticism spread online, Mozilla’s developers stepped in. Firefox programmer Jake Archibald said the team is building a full off-switch, confirming that a future version of the browser will let users completely disable all AI features. He added that the feedback hasn’t been ignored.
After users pushed back hard, Mozilla agreed to build a master “kill switch” that lets people turn off all AI features in Firefox. The backlash followed comments from new CEO Anthony Enzor-DeMeo about turning Firefox into a “modern AI browser,” which didn’t sit well with many privacy-focused users.
Mozilla is searching for new revenue in a crowded browser market, while its most committed users are pushing back to protect the privacy-first values that made Firefox what it is. The kill switch feels like a compromise, one that lets users opt out entirely and hold onto the browser they know, even as change arrives.
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