• The Firefox 148 update sees its stable release today, bringing with it a much-request ‘AI kill switch’ to easily disable all AI-powered features within the browser. • Mozilla has said future updates to the browser will not re-enable AI features once disabled. • Given that Mozilla now measures its success by how much revenue it makes from AI features in its products, Firefox included, that’s a reassuring stance. • To disable AI features in Firefox go to Settings > AI Controls. • Slide the ‘Block AI Enhancements’ toggle to turn off ChatGPT and other chatbots in the sidebar, AI link previews, the (supposedly) smart tab group suggestions and others. • If you do decided to turn off AI enhancements Firefox will no longer nag you to ’try’ said features through in-app call outs and context menu entries.

Article Summaries:

  • Mozilla released Firefox 148 today, adding a long‑requested “AI kill switch” that lets users disable all AI‑powered features-such as ChatGPT sidebar, AI link previews, and smart tab suggestions-via Settings > AI Controls. Once turned off, future updates will not re‑enable these features, and the browser will stop prompting users to try them. Users can also selectively block individual AI functions, keeping useful on‑device translations while removing chatbots. The update includes a new “remote improvements” toggle that allows optional updates without telemetry. Core web platform enhancements include Trusted Types, Sanitizer API, and new CSS shape() support, along with various usability improvements. Firefox 148 is now available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Firefox 148 was released today, adding a highly‑requested “AI kill switch” that lets users disable all AI‑powered features via Settings > AI Controls. Mozilla guarantees that once disabled, AI functions will not be re‑enabled in future updates, and disabling removes in‑app prompts and deletes any locally downloaded models. Users can also selectively block specific AI services, such as chatbots, while keeping on‑device translations. The update also previews an “AI Window” browsing mode, which users can opt out of. Additional changes include new tab‑page sections, remote improvement options, and a re‑organized sponsored‑stories toggle under “Support Firefox.”
  • Firefox 148.0 Released

Mozilla has rolled out Firefox 148, introducing a new “Block AI enhancements” toggle that lets users disable AI‑related features and pop‑ups with a single switch. The update also adds support for the Trusted Types API, strengthening defenses against cross‑site scripting, and incorporates the Sanitizer API, offering developers new methods for safe HTML manipulation. Developers and add‑on creators are advised to review the release notes for potential impacts on their code. The release focuses on privacy controls and security improvements, while maintaining overall browser stability.

  • Firefox 148.0 released Version 148 of Firefox has been released. The most notable change in this release is the addition of a “Block AI enhancements” option that allows turning off “new or current AI enhancements in Firefox, or pop-ups about them " with a single toggle. With this release, Firefox now supports the Trusted Types API to help prevent cross-site scripting attacks as well as the Sanitizer API that provides new methods for HTML manipulation. See the release notes for developers for changes that may affect web developers or those who create Firefox add-ons.

Sources: