The latest update of Firefox, version 148, introduces a much-anticipated "AI kill switch" feature, allowing users to disable AI functionalities such as chatbot prompts and AI-generated link summaries. Mozilla emphasizes that once AI features are turned off, future updates will not override this choice. This decision reflects the company’s new revenue-focused strategy regarding AI integrations.

To disable AI features, users can navigate to Settings > AI Controls and toggle the ‘Block AI Enhancements’ option. This will prevent any in-app notifications encouraging users to try out AI features, as well as remove any previously downloaded AI models from the device. For those who wish to maintain some AI functionalities, a selective blocking option is available, enabling users to retain useful features like on-device translations while avoiding cloud-based services.

Beyond the AI kill switch, Firefox 148 offers users more control over remote updates, allowing them to opt out while still minimizing data collection. Users can set these preferences under Settings > Privacy & Settings > Firefox Data Collection.

The update also focuses on enhancing core web platform capabilities, including the integration of the Trusted Types API and Sanitizer API to combat cross-site scripting (XSS) issues. Additionally, Firefox 148 now includes improved screen reader compatibility for mathematical formulas in PDFs, availability of Firefox Backup on Windows 10, and translation capabilities for Vietnamese and Traditional Chinese. New tab wallpapers will also be featured in new container tabs, alongside the addition of Service worker support for WebGPU.

For more detailed information on the update, users can refer to the official release notes.