Firefox adds global switch to turn off built-in AI

Mozilla unveiled Project Nova on May 21, introducing a single Settings toggle that disables all built-in AI features in Firefox and a refreshed visual design that will roll out later in 2026. The redesign includes rounded tabs, a warmer color palette and a return of compact mode.

The Project Nova settings reorganize privacy and AI options into plain language. In its announcement, Mozilla described “controls for turning off AI features entirely,” and said the new layout will make those controls easier to find rather than hiding them in nested menus.

Mozilla wrote that the global toggle will disable internal AI assistants and tools with a single control while leaving other optional features, such as Firefox’s free VPN and summarization tools, available if users choose to keep them.

The company presented the visual changes as part of the same update, describing a cleaner, faster look for the browser interface. Mozilla said the overall rollout will reach users later in 2026.

The change comes as several browsers have added more integrated AI features. Chrome recently installed a local 4GB Gemini Nano model on user devices and removed a prior disclosure that had said the model’s data would be kept off Google’s servers. Other browser projects have been developing AI-first features that automate browsing and add chat capabilities directly within tabs.

In April, Brave released Brave Origin, a paid browser build priced at a one-time $60 purchase and free on Linux, that compiles out AI, Wallet, Rewards, Tor windows and telemetry. Brave said it uses Privacy Pass blind tokens so the purchase is not tied to a device identity and described the product as packaging a manual “debloating” process users had been sharing online.

Mozilla did not describe Project Nova as removing AI entirely from Firefox. The announcement included the phrase “Firefox is still the only browser built for people, not platforms,” and framed the global toggle as an option for users who do not want built-in AI features enabled.

Market data show Chrome holding roughly two-thirds of the global browser market, while Firefox has remained at low single-digit market share in recent years. Mozilla’s update will reach users through a broader rollout scheduled for later in 2026.