Firefox adds Perplexity AI as default search engine option

Mozilla has officially added Perplexity AI as a default search engine option in Firefox for desktop users, expanding beyond an earlier limited test. The integration brings conversational AI-powered search with citations directly to Firefox’s address bar, positioning Mozilla to compete with other browsers offering AI-enhanced search capabilities.

What you should know: Perplexity provides conversational answers with citations, allowing users to validate information without navigating through multiple search result pages.

• Users can access Perplexity through the unified search button in Firefox’s address bar alongside traditional search engines.
• Mozilla plans to bring Perplexity to mobile Firefox browsers “in the coming months,” though it’s currently desktop-only.

Why this matters: The integration addresses growing user demand for AI-powered search while maintaining Mozilla’s focus on user privacy and choice.

• Mozilla emphasized that users remain in control of when and whether to use the AI search option.
• The company noted that Perplexity “maintains strict prohibitions against selling or sharing personal data,” addressing potential privacy concerns.

What they’re saying: Mozilla highlighted the positive reception from earlier testing phases.

• “Now, after positive feedback, we’re making it a fixture, rolling it out to more users for desktop,” Mozilla stated in their blog post announcement.

Additional features: Mozilla also introduced several other improvements in the latest Firefox update beyond Perplexity integration.

• Profiles support: Enables users to “create and switch between different browsing setups.”
• Visual search: Powered by Google Lens, the feature “lets you search what you see with a simple right-click on any image.”
• Mozilla indicated that user feedback will guide where visual search appears next, potentially expanding “from the address bar to mobile.”