19 August 2026
Mozilla adds optional AI chat feature to Firefox browser
First reported
Fast Company ran this on , a day before the next source picked it up.
- Firefox is adding Smart Window, an AI chatbot panel that can answer questions about open tabs and the broader internet, powered by search provider Exa.
- The feature is opt-in only. Users must actively enable it and can toggle it off anytime, reflecting Mozilla's stance that AI should be a choice rather than default.
- Smart Window answers questions by searching Exa's database of over 500 billion web addresses and can reference a user's browsing history, though Mozilla and Exa say they don't retain search data.
How it was covered
Prompt Engineering DailyAadit Sheth
Mozilla is adding AI features to Firefox including translation, tab grouping, and an AI sidebar with chatbots, but includes a single toggle to 'Block AI enhancements' that turns off all generative AI features. The newsletter notes this is a different approach from AI-native browsers, reflecting Mozilla's philosophy that AI should be optional rather than forced on users.
Reported by Fast Company