Mozilla adds Perplexity's AI Answer engine as a search option for Firefox users

Mozilla has officially integrated the Perplexity AI answer engine as a selectable search option in its Firefox browser for desktop users globally. This move is a major strategic update for Firefox, allowing users to choose an AI-powered, conversational search experience directly from the address bar while maintaining Mozilla’s strong commitment to user privacy.

The integration makes Firefox one of the first major browsers to directly embed a non-traditional, generative AI service alongside conventional search providers like Google and Bing.

Conversational answers meet privacy focus

Perplexity AI is a rising player in the search market known for its unique approach: providing direct, concise, and summarized answers to complex queries, complete with clear citations. This focus on verifiable sourcing is a key differentiator that aligns with Mozilla's core mission.

• User choice: The feature is now available to all Firefox desktop users worldwide, who can select Perplexity from the unified search button in the address bar or set it as their default search engine. Mobile support is expected in the coming months.

  
  

• Privacy differentiator: Mozilla highlighted that Perplexity "maintains strict prohibitions against selling or sharing personal data," offering a privacy-centric alternative to the in-house AI search models used by competing browsers like Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome.

• Enhanced productivity: The integration is designed to streamline research workflows, allowing users to get summarized answers and quickly pivot to follow-up questions without having to open multiple tabs or sift through lists of links.

Broader feature updates

The integration of Perplexity is part of a broader suite of updates in the latest Firefox release aimed at enhancing productivity and user control:

• Browser profiles: Now available to all users, this feature allows users to create and switch between distinct browsing setups for work, school, or personal use, keeping bookmarks, history, and extensions separate for better focus and data segregation.

  
  

• Visual search: The browser has also launched a visual search tool powered by Google Lens, enabling desktop users with Google as their default search engine to search for similar items, products, or text by right-clicking on any image.

The decision to integrate Perplexity follows successful trial runs in select markets, with positive user feedback directly leading to the global rollout.