Firefox's Big Redesign Gives You a Button to Kill All the AI

In brief

• Mozilla's Project Nova redesign adds a single Settings control to disable all AI features in Firefox.
• Brave launched Brave Origin in April, a $60 one-time purchase (free on Linux) that compiles out AI, Wallet, Rewards, and telemetry entirely.
• Chrome recently removed its disclosure promising to keep Gemini Nano data off Google's servers, adding fuel to the AI-in-browsers backlash.

The browser wars just got a twist: Instead of cramming more AI down your throat, Firefox is adding a switch to turn it all off.

Mozilla unveiled Project Nova on May 21—a full visual overhaul of Firefox rolling out later this year. The redesign is cleaner, warmer, and faster, featuring rounded tabs, a refreshed color palette inspired by fire, and compact mode finally making a comeback. But the headline feature for a growing slice of users isn't the aesthetics.

It's an anti-AI switch.

Mozilla is redesigning its settings with plain-language controls that make privacy choices easier to act on—including, per the official announcement, "controls for turning off AI features entirely." No buried menus. No dark patterns. Just an off button.

It also comes with a graphic update, meant to make the new generation of Firefox browsers look a lot better.

Image: Mozilla

The timing couldn't be better. Chrome has been quietly installing an undeletable 4GB Gemini Nano model on its users’ PCs. Meanwhile, browsers like Dia, Opera Neon, and Comet have been racing to build AI-first experiences that automate browsing and chat with your tabs.

Turns out not everyone wants that.

Brave noticed the same backlash. In April, the company launched Brave Origin—a paid browser build (one-time $60, free on Linux) that strips out everything: Leo (its AI assistant), Rewards, Wallet, VPN, Tor windows, and telemetry. Gone. The browser uses Privacy Pass blind token technology so the $60 purchase isn't even tied to your device identity.