Firefox is becoming an AI browser and not everyone is happy

• Mozilla plans to evolve Firefox into an AI browser over the next three years, but features will be optional, with settings to disable them.
• Long-time users are pushing back, citing trust and usability concerns, and critics argue Mozilla risks alienating its core audience by following industry AI trends.
• The move reflects a broader industry shift as AI spreads across browsers and operating systems.

Mozilla has officially announced that Firefox will evolve into an AI browser over the next three years, following in the footsteps of other browsers. However, the company recognizes that not everyone wants AI, so it will provide settings to disable it.

“Every product we build must give people agency in how it works. Privacy, data use, and AI must be clear and understandable. Controls must be simple. AI should always be a choice — something people can easily turn off. People should know why a feature works the way it does and what value they get from it,” Mozilla CEO, Anthony Enzor-DeMeo.

Mozilla’s push to reposition Firefox as an AI browser has already triggered resistance among long-time users and developers.

In a widely circulated open letter posted on Reddit, a Firefox developer and power user criticized the company leadership for prioritizing AI expansion over fixing long-standing usability and workflow issues. 

The post argues that Firefox’s strength has historically come from listening to its most engaged users, not from chasing platform trends set by Google or Microsoft. 

It also warns that evolving Firefox into a broader AI-driven ecosystem risks eroding user trust if those changes are made without meaningful community input. 

Across the different social media platforms, it seems the majority of users share a similar opinion. For example, one post on X says “Mozilla has a new CEO, and he just announced that Firefox will evolve into a modern AI browser. This is a good example of how management doesn’t understand its own user base and why they go out of their way to install Firefox on Windows, Android, iOS, and other devices.”

The same user also suggested that users switch to “Waterfox,” another web browser based on Firefox, but without any AI feature built in and coded for privacy.

Another post points out that the author switched to Firefox specifically because it was one of the last mainstream browsers without built-in AI. With Mozilla now positioning Firefox as an AI browser, that distinction is set to disappear.

What makes this shift particularly notable is that similar frustrations are already driving user behavior elsewhere. As Microsoft continues to integrate AI more deeply into Windows 11, I have increasingly heard from users moving to Linux to avoid AI-first experiences. However, since Firefox is one of the most widely used browsers on Linux, Mozilla’s decision suggests that even open-source platforms may not remain insulated from the broader AI push.

The backlash is also not unique to Mozilla. Microsoft faced criticism earlier this year after describing Windows as an “agentic OS,” prompting the company to publicly reassure users that it would continue investing in non-AI improvements across the operating system.

Mozilla likely anticipated some resistance, which is why it emphasized user control and the ability to turn off AI features. Still, critics argue that if the company had a deeper understanding of its core audience, the approach could have taken a different form.

One alternative approach would have been to introduce a separate AI-focused browser initiative while committing to keep Firefox’s core experience AI-free for users who value simplicity, performance, and control.

That said, the broader context matters. Almost every major technology company is moving aggressively toward AI, and Mozilla’s entry into this space was likely inevitable. The real question now is whether it can pursue AI innovation without undermining the trust and identity that have long defined Firefox.

What are your thoughts about Firefox getting AI features? Let me know in the comments.