Mozilla is taking a fresh approach to artificial intelligence in web browsing. Rather than releasing a brand-new AI browser, the company is enhancing Firefox by allowing users to switch their default search engine to an AI-powered option — Perplexity, a conversational answer engine designed to deliver smarter search results.
The company announced that Perplexity will now be available to Firefox users worldwide on desktop, following strong feedback from earlier pilot tests in select regions such as the U.S., U.K., and Germany. Mozilla also confirmed that the feature will roll out to mobile versions of the browser in the near future.
With Perplexity activated, users can conduct searches through an AI-driven interface that provides complete, citation-backed answers instead of just displaying a list of web links. This creates a more natural, chat-like search experience where information is presented clearly and with context. The feature will appear in Firefox’s unified search bar, allowing users to easily toggle between Perplexity and traditional search engines. Those who prefer can also set Perplexity as their default search engine directly from the browser’s settings.
Mozilla’s decision to include Perplexity aligns with its ongoing effort to give users more control over how they browse the web. The company had indicated earlier that, if the test phase went well, it would explore adding more AI-powered search options to Firefox in the future. Perplexity was chosen initially because of its emphasis on privacy — the AI company claims it does not sell or share users’ personal data, a key factor for Mozilla’s privacy-first philosophy.
In addition to the new AI search option, Mozilla announced a broader release of browser profiles, a feature that lets users create and switch between different browsing environments. This can be particularly useful for separating work-related browsing from personal use or academic research.
Firefox is also continuing to test visual search capabilities through Google Lens for users who have Google set as their default engine.
By introducing Perplexity AI, Mozilla is modernizing Firefox without compromising on user autonomy or privacy. Instead of forcing an AI-driven experience, it’s offering people the choice — giving them the freedom to decide whether or not to bring artificial intelligence into their everyday web searches.
