Mozilla is adding a single, browser‑level control that can turn off every generative AI capability in Firefox, a setting the organisation says will arrive with Firefox 148 on 24 February 2026. According to Mozilla's blog post, the new AI controls section in desktop settings will provide "a single place to block current and future generative AI features in Firefox." [4],[6],[2]

The control is designed as an all‑in‑one switch that blocks AI features globally while also allowing users to manage individual AI tools if they prefer. Mozilla says the settings will cover items such as in‑browser translations, AI‑generated alt text for PDFs, AI tab grouping, link previews and the sidebar chatbot, and will stop feature prompts from reappearing once disabled. [4],[6]

The effort follows earlier controversy around Mozilla's decision to add on‑device AI to Firefox; the company framed the move as a balance between offering useful tools and respecting users who want no part of AI. Industry reporting notes Mozilla will make AI features opt‑in and emphasises user choice as central to the rollout. [3],[2]

Senior Firefox developers have described the control internally as an "AI kill switch." As developer Jake Archibald put it, "Something that hasn't been made clear: Firefox will have an option to disable all AI features completely. We've been calling it the AI kill switch internally." That phrasing underscores Mozilla's intention to reassure long‑standing users who are wary of AI in the browser. Mozilla's public messaging likewise reflected the division in user preferences: "AI is changing the web, and people want very different things from it. We’ve heard from many who want nothing to do with AI." [3],[4]

Some technical and rollout details remain unresolved. Commentators have pointed out Mozilla has not published the precise UI design for AI controls, whether the master toggle will automatically reverse previously enabled AI settings, or the exact scope of "future generative AI features" the switch will block. Enterprise deployment implications and any measurable performance effects from disabling AI are likewise not yet clarified. Organisations managing Firefox across fleets will need to review policies once the feature ships. [5],[6]

Mozilla's move sets it apart from major rivals that are embedding AI more deeply into their browsers. Microsoft has been steering Edge toward an AI‑centric "agentic" experience and does not currently offer a single‑click global disable, while Google continues to layer AI into Chrome. Privacy‑focused alternatives such as Brave and DuckDuckGo already provide ways to limit AI‑style features, but Mozilla's central toggle may widen expectations for clearer user controls across the browser market. [2],[1],[5]

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Source: Noah Wire Services