Mozilla has officially added Perplexity AI as a selectable search option in Firefox. The feature lets users choose an AI answer engine instead of traditional search results.
Key points:
- The option is rolling out globally for desktop users.
- Mobile support is expected to follow in a few months.
- Perplexity offers conversational, direct answers with citations, rather than merely listing links. TechCrunch
- It is available via the unified search button in Firefox’s address bar. Users can also configure their default search provider from settings.
Why Mozilla Did This
Mozilla says this is part of giving users more choice and control over how they search. Earlier, Perplexity had been in testing in certain markets (U.S., U.K., Germany) to gauge user feedback and performance.
Positive feedback from those tests encouraged Mozilla to expand the option globally. The new addition reflects a trend toward integrating AI-powered tools in everyday workflows for faster, more informative searches.
A strong part of the appeal is combining AI answer engines with privacy: Mozilla emphasizes that Perplexity does not share or sell user personal data.
How Users Can Try It Out
If you use Firefox, here’s how to access Perplexity AI as a search option:
- Update Firefox to version 139 or later on desktop.
- In the address bar, you’ll see a “unified search button”; from there you can select Perplexity as your search engine for a query.
- If Perplexity isn’t showing automatically, you can manually add it:
- Visit perplexity.ai in Firefox.
- Begin typing a search in the address bar but before pressing Enter, click “Search with Perplexity” from the dropdown. After repeating this, Firefox may prompt you to add Perplexity as a built-in search engine.
- You’ll also get a keyword shortcut (like
@perplexity) to make using it faster.
Implications & What to Watch
- Search Habits Changing: Users who prefer direct, summary-style answers rather than digging through multiple pages will likely like Perplexity. It streamlines information access.
- Competition & Market Pressure: Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo etc., are now under pressure to keep up with AI-enhanced search features. Mozilla’s move signals growing demand for AI tools in browsers.
- Privacy vs. AI: Mozilla’s promise about not selling or sharing personal data is significant. How well that’s upheld will affect trust, especially among privacy-conscious users.
- Mobile Expansion: Since mobile browsing is a big part of internet usage, how quickly and smoothly Perplexity is rolled out to Firefox’s mobile apps will matter.
