Mozilla Plans AI-First Firefox as New CEO Pushes Trust

• Anthony Enzor-DeMeo, Mozilla’s new CEO, wants to evolve Firefox into a “modern AI browser.”
• Enzor-DeMeo emphasizes privacy, transparency and a user-controlled AI "power-off" switch.
• Mozilla’s stated goal: become the “world’s most trusted software company.”
• The move responds to public concern that users feel over-tracked, under-informed and unsure how AI shapes online information.

What Mozilla is announcing

Mozilla’s incoming chief executive, Anthony Enzor-DeMeo, has set a clear priority: integrate AI into Firefox while doubling down on privacy and trust. In a public blog post, he described a plan to build a "modern AI browser" that offers new capabilities without sacrificing control.

Enzor-DeMeo’s background and timeline

Enzor-DeMeo joined Mozilla roughly a year ago. He served as senior vice president of Firefox and then became general manager in July before being named CEO.

His leadership memo and accompanying press materials lay out product and corporate goals aimed at addressing user concerns about data collection and AI-driven experiences.

Trust, safeguards and the power-off control

Central to the plan is trust. Enzor-DeMeo frames Mozilla’s long-term goal as transforming the organization into the “world’s most trusted software company.”

He told readers: “I knew this would become a defining issue, especially in the browser, where so many decisions about privacy, data, and transparency now originate.” He also said: “People want software that is fast, modern, but also honest about what it does. They want to understand what’s happening and to have real choices.”

The power-off button

Mozilla plans to offer explicit controls for AI features — including a named ‘‘power-off’’ control that users can employ to disable built-in AI behaviors. The company emphasizes that safeguards and clarity will accompany any AI integration.

Why Mozilla is pushing this now

Public sentiment and competitive pressure are driving the shift. Mozilla’s materials note that “consumers around the world increasingly feel over-tracked, under-informed, and unsure how AI systems shape the information they see and the decisions they make.”

Mozilla’s approach tries to position Firefox as an alternative to larger browser and platform vendors by pairing modern AI features with stronger transparency and data controls.

What this means for users and the market

For users, an AI-enhanced Firefox could bring features like smarter search, context-aware assistants and privacy-aware content summaries. But success depends on how well Mozilla balances capability with clear, enforceable safeguards.

For competitors, the move signals that trust and control are now strategic levers in the browser wars. If Mozilla can deliver meaningful AI features while keeping users in control, it may reclaim relevance among privacy-minded audiences.

Author: Michael Kan • December 16, 2025