Mozilla promises a Firefox AI kill switch, but you won’t get it anytime soon. In a response to a Reddit open letter to Mozilla’s new CEO, a Mozilla employee who posted as user anthony-firefox said that a real kill switch to turn off AI features will be introduced in the first quarter of 2026.
This answer attempts to reassure worried users on two fronts: Firefox needs to serve “almost everyone” (developers, Linux users, students, parents, and people who never change a default setting), and it will still be built on user control. The letter, written by a self-proclaimed developer and everyday user, argues that the problem is less about ambition and more about execution, especially when feedback goes unanswered.
If you’re sticking with Firefox because it feels like an escape from big tech standards, timing matters. A kill switch next year still leaves a long way to go for the AI that arrives before it. And if you don’t like Mozilla’s new AI pivot, check out the best browsers for privacy.
Mozilla gives a date
Anthony’s key message is simple: user control includes AI. He says there will be a clear opportunity to turn off AI features and that a real kill switch is planned for the first quarter of 2026.
The formulation does a lot of work here. Users who want to disable AI usually mean disabled, not hidden. Therefore, the bar must be straightforward, the controls must be easy to find, and the features must be turned off in a way that users can trust.
Choice vs. everyday friction
The open letter argues that Mozilla’s messages about agency and choice do not align with the experiences of power users. The author calls the subreddit a useful minority that detects regressions early, deals with edge cases, and recommends Firefox to family, friends, and colleagues.
As a recent example, the author points to a detailed post claiming that Firefox’s new profile management system is fundamentally broken. This was first published without attribution on connect.mozilla.org before appearing on Reddit. The letter stops Firefox from expanding into a modern AI browser until the fundamentals feel solid and feedback is clearly heard.
What to watch before the first quarter of 2026
Mozilla has raised expectations with the kill switch for the first quarter of 2026. Now the test shifts to what gets transported between here and there and what control users get on day one.
If AI features arrive before the full shutdown, pay attention to how clear the opt-out is and how directly Mozilla responds to the usability complaints that prompted the letter. For Mozilla, providing AI is only half the battle. The meaning of “off” is the part that determines whether this is trust-building or tone-deaf. All this drama calls into question Firefox’s place in the list of best browsers.
