February 2, 2026
Toggle wars: AI vs Just a Browser
Firefox Getting New Controls to Turn Off AI Features
Firefox adds a big red switch for AI while commenters scream “just the browser”
TLDR: Firefox 148 adds a master switch to block current and future AI features, from translations to chatbot sidebars. Commenters cheer the option but gripe about more settings, with some yelling “just the browser” and others recommending LibreWolf for a no-frills, AI-free experience.
Mozilla is adding AI off controls to Firefox, rolling out Feb 24 with version 148. That means one big “Block AI Enhancements” toggle to shut down current and future AI features—like translations, alt text in PDFs, smart tab grouping, link previews, and a sidebar chatbot—plus granular switches if you only want to nix some. Mozilla’s pitch: build AI for folks who want it, let everyone else flip it off. The official word is here: blog.mozilla.org/en/firefox/ai-controls.
The crowd? Spicy. One commenter dropped “justthebrowser.com” and the meme practically wrote itself: people want a browser, not a robot butler. Skeptics like blue_sauce_bean worry this is “yet another config change” buried in a maze of settings, echoing past gripes from a HN thread. Meanwhile, mathnode shrugs: of all the AI bloat, Firefox is the least annoying—but they’ll disable everything anyway. The alternate-lifestyle crowd chimed in too: vpShane’s “that control would be LibreWolf” shout-out became a rallying cry for those who want zero extras, period.
Drama recap: Is AI a helpful co-pilot or just more pop-ups and clutter? Mozilla insists the master switch silences prompts, which reassures some. But the vibe is clear: the AI-off gang wants a calm, simple internet; the rest just want the option to exist without needing a degree in Settings.
Key Points
- •Firefox will introduce controls to disable AI features starting in version 148.
- •Users can turn off AI features entirely or individually, including future additions and prompts.
- •AI features listed include translations, PDF alt text, AI tab grouping, link previews, and a sidebar chatbot.
- •Sidebar chatbot options include Anthropic Claude, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and Le Chat Mistral.
- •Rollout of Firefox 148 with AI controls begins on February 24.