Came to the forums looking for this. Seconded. Firefox is the only decent browser outside the Chromium space-- don't ruin it with useless (at best) or harmful (at worst) AI nonsense.

I will switch, I swear to god, I will switch away to a non-AI browser, even if it's inconvenient and cumbersome.

Your users are privacy and transparency oriented. Don't betray us like this.

Been using Firefox since the mid-2000s and I fully agree. What AI features Firefox already has actively get in the way of me using it for both leisure and work. All this move will ensure is that I at least never upgrade from the current version, and at most switch to a different browser that doesn't enable the sludgification of the human psyche.

Firefox used to be the bastion for an independent, privacy-focused, user-first browser, especially in the face of the rest of the internet submitting to Chromium. Your Gecko engine is far, far less optimal for browsing the web than Chromium, but many within the user base stuck with you for 20+ years because of that.

The turn to having a pro-AI board and CEO is not surprising, given the fiasco around Mozilla's handling of the SUMO bot auto-translation was already the writing on the wall. But heed this: pushing for AI *will* end one of the last positive/unique things about Firefox. It will be a continuation of the betrayal of trust and a gross lack of awareness about the constitution of your user base. Your CEO statement overall reeks of corporate hypeware talk while demonstrating multiple misunderstandings around how AI has injected itself into people's daily web tasks.

I deeply, deeply implore anyone in Mozilla with an ounce of executive control to reconsider this stance as soon as possible. If not, at least push for all AI settings to be opt-out by default.

I can only echo what has already been said here. The benefit of Firefox and other Mozilla Foundation products is to stand a part from tech trends that ultimately hurt the internet. Marketing for Firefox presents itself as the only real option for a web browser. Going down this path won't prevent you from falling behind... it'll make you just as unattractive as your competitors.

Thank you for your feedback, we really do appreciate it

Please be assured that Firefox will always remain a browser built around user control. That includes AI with increased user controls being made available in the first quarter of 2026. Choice matters and demonstrating our commitment to choice is how we build and maintain trust.

The people who answer questions here, for the most part, are other users volunteering their time (like me), not Mozilla employees or developers. When a Mozilla employee responds, you'll see the Mozilla staff label next to their name.

To leave feedback for Mozilla developers, you can go to the Firefox Help menu and select Share ideas and feedback…. Alternatively, you can use this link. Your feedback is collected by a team that reads it and gathers data on the most common issues. For example, see this recent Mozilla Connect thread.

The people who answer questions here, for the most part, are other users volunteering their time (like me), not Mozilla employees or developers. When a Mozilla employee responds, you'll see the Mozilla staff label next to their name. To leave feedback for Mozilla developers, you can go to the Firefox Help menu and select Share ideas and feedback…. Alternatively, you can use this link. Your feedback is collected by a team that reads it and gathers data on the most common issues. For example, see this recent Mozilla Connect thread.

Hi Alice!

Thanks for responding here; I appreciate that there was some portion of an official response here. I had a brief and similar exchange with a developer from the official developer Firefox account over on bsky a few days ago as well.

While I appreciate the responses that I've received from developers so far, my understanding of this issue is that the overall advancement and direction of The Mozilla Foundation is not guided by its developers and is instead by its board and those appointed.

In this case, as the forums that were linked are managed by developers and not the leading decision makers within the Mozilla Foundation, what other recourse do we as a community have here? While I can speak with developers, I've found that a handful do share our concerns and frustrations with both the privacy policy adjustments that have occurred, as well as the insistence towards AI as a path of development for the Firefox platform.

If those developers aren't being heard and Mozilla continues its rapid and aggressive inclusion of AI and regression of user privacy, how can we ever hope to have those within positions of power at Mozilla hear and understand that large sections of its userbase don't want a "suite of AI tools" or "an AI killswitch", we want Mozilla to divest from AI wholesale and to not engage with a technological grift that doesn't benefit the overall userbase in any capacity.

I don't see or feel as though there's a direct course to take here as the board seems insistent on this path and to not listen to those negatively affected by this. I'm happy to be guided towards an option I may have missed if such a thing exists, however as it stands now I fear for a growing disconnect between Mozilla's board of directors and executive staff, versus its developers and community.

If there are areas where I'm unclear or misunderstanding, I'm happy to be educated in how Mozilla is looking to correct these concerns, but for now it really feels as though we as a community are being seen as a bank account to withdraw from, rather than a community to be listened to and collaborated with.

It is important to note that the Mozilla Corporation (not the Mozilla Foundation, which is linked, but seperate) produces Firefox.

I would suggest that you continue to use Firefox, but use the options in the Firefox settings menu (that we are looking to enhance) to tailor your experience.

If those developers aren't being heard and Mozilla continues its rapid and aggressive inclusion of AI and regression of user privacy, how can we ever hope to have those within positions of power at Mozilla hear and understand that large sections of its userbase don't want a "suite of AI tools" or "an AI killswitch", we want Mozilla to divest from AI wholesale and to not engage with a technological grift that doesn't benefit the overall userbase in any capacity.

Hi, Blizzrdball,

You mentioned an "AI killswitch". For the benefit of others reading, this proposed "solution", while not divesting from AI, will allow users to disable AI in Firefox by selecting a single setting. Here's the related bug report: Bug 2005800 Add Disable AI section to gen ai settings

It is important to note that the Mozilla Corporation (not the Mozilla Foundation, which is linked, but seperate) produces Firefox. I would suggest that you continue to use Firefox, but use the options in the Firefox settings menu (that we are looking to enhance) to tailor your experience.

Hi there Paul,

Thanks for clarifying between Mozilla Foundation and Corporation; I admit I was conflating the two and apologize for that.

I unfortunately have to say however that the remaining reply does feel dismissive and reductive of my concerns that I've provided so far. If the settings provided by Firefox sufficed for my needs, I wouldn't have opened this thread.

I don't wish to have to disable AI tooling from my web browser- I want it to not be there at all; and if it is, for its default state to be disabled and dormant. Not immediately reviewing and collecting data from my browser usage. If I wanted this, I would have downloaded and used my own self-hosted LLM with my own training data.

I understand that Mozilla.ai exists and has people behind it who's job it is to learn, utilize, and develop these tools. If Mozilla truly feels the need to invest in this tech and realize its potential, I would much prefer that to be done as it's own separate product and tool that I can download and utilize on my own terms- not by being forced in front of me via. my browser. And unfortunately, no developer can change that. That decision lies with Mozilla's board and executive staff.

Hi

I am going to close this thread. You gave already been painted in the right direction for feedback outside of a support request.