Firefox is adding a single switch to disable all AI features

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Mozilla says the next Firefox release will include a single settings toggle that blocks all AI “enhancements,” responding to users who want a clear way to opt out. BleepingComputer reports the feature arrives in Firefox 148, scheduled for February 24, and can disable both current and future generative-AI features from one place.

This is an important design decision: once AI features are scattered across a product, “choice” becomes meaningless unless there’s an easy global control.

What Mozilla is shipping in Firefox 148

According to BleepingComputer, Firefox 148 will include a new AI controls section in desktop settings. The key element is a “Block AI enhancements” toggle.

When enabled, it:

  • Blocks existing AI features
  • Prevents prompts or reminders about AI features
  • Persists across updates (so settings don’t get reset each release)

Mozilla also said the toggle will be off by default.

Why a global toggle matters

Browser features tend to accumulate. If each AI capability is controlled separately, you end up with:

  • Five different settings in five different places
  • Pop-ups that keep asking for permission
  • Users unsure whether a new update re-enabled something

A single “block” control turns AI from an implicit default into an explicit choice, which is aligned with how browsers historically handle privacy and security-sensitive features.

Which AI features are in scope

BleepingComputer lists five areas Mozilla plans to let users manage individually:

  • Browser translations
  • Alt-text generation for images in PDFs
  • AI-enhanced tab grouping (with suggested names)
  • Link previews that summarize key points
  • Sidebar access to chatbots (including Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, and others)

This list matters because it shows “AI features” aren’t one thing—they include accessibility tooling, organization helpers, and optional chatbot integrations.

The trade-offs for users who block AI

Disabling AI globally can be a good default for people who prioritize:

  • Minimal feature creep
  • Reduced background processing
  • Less uncertainty about data handling

But it also means giving up potentially useful tools like translations or document accessibility features. Mozilla’s “block or allow per-feature” approach attempts to satisfy both camps.

What to watch next

Two practical follow-ups will determine whether this is real user control or just branding:

  • Whether Mozilla clearly documents what data each feature uses (local vs remote)
  • Whether new AI features consistently respect the global block toggle

If those are handled well, this could become a model for other browsers that are rapidly integrating AI.

Bottom line

Firefox’s upcoming “Block AI enhancements” switch is a small UI change with a big governance implication: it makes AI in the browser an opt-in decision users can enforce, rather than a gradual default that’s hard to unwind.

Sources

n English