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Key takeaways

• Mozilla's new CEO declares that AI is the future of Firefox.
• There's no indication of how embedded AI will be in the browser.
• I expect the Linux community won't welcome this change.

Let's cut to the chase: No. AI will not save Firefox or Mozilla.

Let's back up a bit now.

Mozilla has a new CEO, Anthony Enzor-DeMeo, who has assured the world that changes are coming to the Firefox web browser. Firefox will remain the cornerstone of the organization, but it will evolve into an AI browser.

Also: Firefox just fixed my biggest annoyance with web browsers - and others should copy ASAP

Enzor-DeMeo also stated, in a Verge interview, that he will not block ad blockers in Firefox because doing so would go against the company's mission to protect user rights and offer user choice. At the same time, he mentioned that blocking ad blockers could bring in an estimated $150 million in additional revenue. Just imagine the pushback from the Firefox community.

But back to AI.

AI-centric browsers are popping up all over the place. Perplexity has one, as does Microsoft, Brave, Opera, and many others. People are starting to warm up to the idea of AI being embedded in their browsers. According to a Market.US report, "The global AI browser market size is expected to be worth around USD $76.8 billion by 2034, from USD $4.5 billion in 2024, growing at a CAGR of 32.8% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2034."

What will Linux users do?

That's some impressive growth. However, let's consider who serves as the primary market for Firefox.

Linux users.

Also: I tried the only agentic browser that runs local AI - and found only one downside

Or, to be more specific, users who value privacy, control over their online experience, and an open, independent internet ecosystem. 

Do you really believe such a community will be OK with AI being front and center in Firefox? AI that can use queries for the creation of consumer profiles, or use inputted information to train LLMs?

As a member of the open-source/Linux community who has been speaking publicly for decades, I predict that this will not be a welcome change. The only saving grace will be if the AI in Firefox is opt-in (and not opt-out). If Mozilla chooses the opt-out path, it could make disabling AI a process that requires using the about://config tool in Firefox. Most Linux users have no problem with that, but those who are new to the open-source OS or use Firefox on Windows/MacOS might not be as savvy.

And then there's the idea of monetization. How will that work? Will Mozilla follow a path similar to Opera's Neon? Opera's AI-based browser is $20/month to use . The difference is that Opera has other versions of its browser, most of which are free. If you don't want to pay to use Neon, just use standard Opera. 

Also: I've been testing the top AI browsers - here's which ones actually impressed me

Will Mozilla go the same route? 

Currently, no one knows.

What Mozilla should do

Here's another question: Will Mozilla allow the use of local AI in Firefox, or will it only connect to cloud-based services, such as Perplexity or ChatGPT? If Mozilla is smart, they would do this:

• Offer a version of Firefox that uses cloud-based AI and charge a monthly fee for it.
• Offer a version that utilizes local AI (such as Ollama) and allow it to be used for free.

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Why does that make perfect sense? 

Considering that most Linux users place a high value on privacy, many of them (such as myself) would only consider a version of Firefox that can connect to a locally installed instance of Ollama; otherwise, it's a deal-breaker.

AI is the future

I realize we've crossed the Rubicon, and there's no turning back. AI is the future of technology, and the more we fight it, the more we lose. Once upon a time, I thought AI was just a fad, but I remember back in the 1980s, my dad (who owned a bike shop) thought BMX was a fad. He ate his shirt on that assumption, and the shop closed.

No matter how many people stand up against AI, the powers that be have decided it will remain a major force in our lives. Because of that, AI is going to find its way into nearly every aspect of our lives, and web browsers are happily proving that point.

Also: The best secure browsers for privacy: Expert tested

However, when looking in the rearview mirror, we see how many times Mozilla has stumbled. Even the Linux community is starting to turn on the company that has provided the open-source operating system with its default browser for years. Some distributions are migrating away from Firefox, in favor of Brave or Vivaldi. Yes, Brave has built-in AI, but it's not agentic. Vivaldi, on the other hand, does not have AI and never will.

According to Jon von Tetzchner, CEO, Vivaldi:

We're taking a stand, choosing humans over hype, and we will not turn the joy of exploring into inactive spectatorship. Without exploration, the web becomes far less interesting. Our curiosity loses oxygen, and the diversity of the web dies.

Agentic or no?

This is the big question. It's one thing to add AI as a side panel (akin to Opera's Aria), but if Firefox goes the agentic path, the move will come back to haunt them.

I did some digging into various Linux and tech forums, and the comments are fairly clear: People do not want AI shoved down their throats. On the official Phoronix Facebook page regarding this issue, I found the following statements:

Rip Firefox it was a good run.

Aaand there goes my browser. Any better alternatives?

It's over. They managed to kill the only thing that made Firefox different. Let this be the end of Mozilla. This is the only way they'll learn.

Similar sentiments are found in various Linux groups -- users don't want Firefox to go the AI route. 

I agree.

Also: Are AI browsers worth the security risk? Why experts are worried

If I want AI in a browser, I'll use Opera. Or, better yet, I'll simply use my locally installed instance of Ollama. If I want privacy and security, I'll use Firefox. Privacy and AI simply don't mix; the day they do, I imagine I'll drop Firefox from my rotation.

From my perspective, it's simple: AI will not save Firefox or Mozilla. This is just one more in a long line of missteps that could very well herald the end of what was once the greatest web browser on the market.

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