Firefox 141’s update introduces an artificial intelligence feature to automatically organize tabs into thematic groups. However, this technological advancement has raised concerns due to its high power consumption, leading to increased CPU usage and reduced laptop battery life. Despite its potential, this controversial feature has left many users confused, and they are trying to disable it while advocating for a quick response from Mozilla.Firefox and Artificial Intelligence The latest version of Firefox introduced an artificial intelligence-driven feature to automatically organize tabs. While this innovation is promising, it has drawn criticism, mainly due to its high power consumption and CPU performance requirements. Users are seeking solutions to disable this feature while these issues persist. Last July, Mozilla released version 141 of its popular browser, Firefox. This new version incorporates an artificial intelligence feature designed to automatically organize tabs into thematic groups. This feature is powered by a local AI, protecting users from having their data sold to third parties, a feature that sets Mozilla apart from its competitors. The impact of local AI on performance Unfortunately, the new feature isn’t universally popular. While it offers an intuitive solution for managing multiple tabs, users have noticed a marked increase in resource consumption. Specifically, the inference engine behind this AI, built with Microsoft technology, consumes a significant amount of CPU power., which results in a noticeable decrease in laptop battery life. Community Reactions and Proposed Solutions Many users have expressed their dissatisfaction on various platforms. They accuse the Firefox development team of neglecting performance needs to satisfy a trend. Mozilla, despite releasing fixes for versions 141.0.2 and 141.0.3, has yet to significantly address these power consumption issues.

Workarounds

Faced with this dilemma, Internet users have actively sought ways to disable this annoying feature. Although no clear option is available in the browser’s standard settings, it is possible to use the « about:config » menu to modify the « browser.tabs.groups.smart.enabled » setting to disable it. Moreover, the AI chatbot, added since Firefox version 133, can be disabled in the same way using the « browser.ml.chat » line. Despite the current concerns, it’s clear that Mozilla wants to innovate and add advanced features to its browser without compromising its users’ privacy—a gamble that, for the moment, is generating more concern than enthusiasm.