Firefox Enters the AI Browsefr Battle as Chrome Faces New Competition

 

Mozilla is taking a bold step to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving browser market. The company is introducing new AI features aimed at giving users more control and a more personal browsing experience. People can continue using Firefox the way they always have, or they can switch to a new private window called the AI Window, which brings built-in AI tools directly into the browser.

In its announcement, Mozilla said it believes AI should act like a helpful companion instead of trapping users in endless chats. The company highlighted its vision of AI that supports users while they explore the wider web, rather than one that keeps them inside a single interface.

AI Window offers a guided, optional experience

The AI Window will allow users to chat with an AI assistant and get support as they browse. It’s optional by design. Users can turn it on when they need it or disable it entirely. Mozilla noted that the feature is being developed transparently. It will launch through a waitlist, and users will be able to choose from different AI models based on their preferences.

This is Mozilla’s third AI-related update. The company already offers an AI chatbot in the desktop sidebar, along with Shake to Summarize on iOS, which gives quick summaries of webpages.

Chrome still leads, but new competitors are gaining ground

For the first time in a long while, Google Chrome’s strong lead in the browser market is facing pressure. A wave of AI-focused browsers is emerging, and many of them include agentic capabilities, meaning the AI can take actions on behalf of the user.

Perplexity recently opened its Comet browser to all desktop users and plans to release a mobile version next. OpenAI’s ChatGPT Atlas has launched on Mac, with support for more platforms on the way.

Firefox enters this race with a unique advantage. It is one of the oldest and most trusted browsers available, and unlike many of its competitors, it does not rely on the Chromium codebase. Its own Gecko engine sets it apart from Chromium-based browsers like Atlas, Comet, Opera, Samsung Internet and others.

Chrome’s market share remains strong

Even with the new competition, Chrome maintains a dominant position in the global browser market. According to SimilarWeb, Chrome holds 69.33 percent of the desktop browser share. Microsoft Edge sits at 15.48 percent, Safari at 7.5 percent and Firefox at 4.84 percent.