After fierce criticism: AI deactivator for Firefox comes with the next update
With a single switch, Firefox users will be able to disable all AI functions from the end of the month. How far this goes under the hood remains unclear.
This is what the switch in Firefox is supposed to look like
(Image: Mozilla)
Firefox browser will receive a single switch with its next update before the end of the month, allowing all AI functions to be permanently disabled. This was announced by Mozilla's Firefox chief Ajit Varma in a blog post, concretizing a promise made in mid-December. The switch will be included in version 148 of Mozilla's browser, but it won't be the only one. Additionally, there will be other switches to enable and disable individual AI functions. These include those for automatic website translations, adding descriptive texts to PDFs, AI-generated tab groups, AI previews for links, and chatbots next to the browser window.
Criticism “from many”, praise “from others”
In the announcement, Varma now largely admits between the lines that criticism of the AI functions in Firefox has been extensive. He writes that they have “heard from many” who do not want anything to do with AI in the browser. However, they have also “heard from others” who desire AI tools that are “really useful.” Therefore, they have developed the switches, which are now to be introduced relatively quickly. Varma also assures that the settings made with them will remain constant across updates. So, if you completely disable AI once, you won't have to repeat it every time. Then there will be no pop-ups or other notifications pointing to the functions.
The background to this move is Mozilla's announcement to equip Firefox extensively with AI tools to finally regain market share. The criticism of the plans presented in December was so loud and extensive that Mozilla felt compelled days later to promise the comprehensive deactivation option. At the time, critics pointed out that a mere switch in the user interface would be insufficient as long as the basic infrastructure for integrating AI into the browser remained. Varma is now not elaborating on the details. How extensive the deactivation option will be will soon become apparent.
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The reaction from users has clearly shown how skeptical an influential part of the community is about AI integration. How many will actually press the switch remains to be seen. Just last week, Vivaldi promoted the latest update of its browser as a “middle finger to AI” and emphasized the advantages of human intelligence. The entire browser industry is tackling the wrong problem in the race for more and more AI tools, Vivaldi CEO Jon von Tetzchner had said. With this, he implicitly criticized Mozilla as well. At the same time, other companies are developing browsers where AI is not an add-on, but the central basis of all functions. How great the interest in this is is still unclear.
(mho)
