Earlier this year in February, the developers of Mozilla Firefox announced intentions to incorporate external AI tools into the browser. In a recent update, they detailed the use of specialized 'AI windows' to enable interactions with services such as ChatGPT.
The company's first disclosure targeted a limited segment of users for testing third-party AI integrations. Now, Mozilla is creating both public and private versions of these AI windows to extend the functionality. This builds on the existing sidebar feature that allows conversations with various AI models, including Anthropic's Claude, OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, Mistral's Le Chat, and Microsoft's Copilot.
Mozilla's methodical integration differs from competitors who have quickly embedded AI natively, such as Microsoft's Edge using Copilot, Google's Chrome leveraging Gemini, or Brave incorporating its Leo AI. Permitting users to select their AI provider aligns with user preferences, yet the company's gradual implementation seems at odds with the fast-paced AI developments across the sector. No specific release schedule for the AI windows was provided.
Mozilla portrays these AI windows as an innovative, user-directed environment in Firefox for engaging with AI assistants to obtain browsing support, tailored entirely to individual preferences. The addition is voluntary, grants users total oversight, and permits simple deactivation should it prove unsuitable.
Mozilla invites individuals to subscribe for progress notifications on this feature.
Mark has contributed to PCWorld over the past ten years, drawing on three decades in technology journalism. He has produced more than 3,500 articles for PCWorld, addressing topics like computer processors, hardware accessories, and the Windows system. His bylines include PC Magazine, Byte, eWEEK, Popular Science, and Electronic Buyers' News, earning him a Jesse H. Neal Award for news coverage. Recently, he relinquished a stockpile of multiple Thunderbolt docking stations and USB-C adapters owing to limited office space.