Mozilla has appointed a new CEO, Anthony Enzor-DeMeo, and his vision for Firefox is causing concern among long-time users. Many say the browser’s planned shift toward artificial intelligence goes against its privacy-first reputation.
For years, Firefox has stood out as one of the last major browsers not built on Google’s Chromium engine. Users valued it for simple web browsing, fewer tracking features, and strong privacy controls. As other browsers added AI tools and assistants, Firefox remained mostly focused on basic browsing.
That changed when Enzor-DeMeo announced that Firefox would “evolve into an AI browser.” The statement triggered backlash from users who said they chose Firefox specifically to avoid AI-driven features and data collection.
Critics argue the move feels out of touch with Firefox’s small but loyal user base. Firefox holds only a small share of the global browser market, but many of its users stay for privacy reasons rather than speed or design. Online forums quickly filled with complaints, with users saying Mozilla was copying the same AI-heavy approach they had left Chrome and Edge to escape.
Mozilla later responded to the criticism and said AI features would not be mandatory. The company promised optional tools and a “kill switch” to disable them. Still, some users remain skeptical, saying opt-out settings are not the same as asking for permission first.
The controversy has raised broader questions about Mozilla’s direction. As a non-profit organization, Mozilla is not under the same investor pressure as big tech firms. Some users worry that an AI focus could signal future partnerships or a shift away from user-first values.
For privacy-focused users, alternatives already exist. Firefox-based browsers like LibreWolf and Waterfox remove extra features and tracking while keeping Firefox’s core engine. Some users say switching to these forks may be safer than staying with a browser that could change its defaults.
As Mozilla moves forward with its AI plans, Firefox faces a challenge: keeping up with industry trends without losing the trust of the users who rely on it to stay simple, private, and predictable.
