Firefox experiments with Perplexity AI in version 139
Photo: Reuters
Mozilla Firefox is trialling the integration of the AI-powered Perplexity Search Engine within its browser, signalling a possible shift in search partnerships and how users interact with online information.
First reported by Hackread.com, Perplexity is currently live in Firefox version 139, with the test introducing a pop-up prompt within the address bar when users enter Search Mode.
It offers the option to “Try Perplexity” – positioning it as a “new way to search in Firefox” with well-cited, conversational results.
🤖 Mozilla Firefox experiments with AI-powered Perplexity Search Engine in its address bar for version 139, signalling a potential shift in search partnerships!
Read: https://t.co/IZyIM1ir2Z#Technology #AI #SearchEngine #Mozilla #FirefoxUnlike traditional search engines, Perplexity uses artificial intelligence to generate direct answers, complete with citations and follow-up options.
This format is designed to ease information overload by avoiding endless link lists, instead offering a more dialogue-like search experience.
Mozilla appears to be exploring options beyond its long-standing search deal with Google, which reportedly earns the company over $400 million annually.
Although no formal agreement has been announced between Mozilla and Perplexity, the experiment reflects an openness to AI-centric alternatives.
According to Windows Report, Firefox engineer Mandy Cheang is working on the implementation, referred to internally as a “draft experiment recipe” for Firefox 139.
The integration marks a notable change in strategy for Mozilla. While Firefox already supports Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Wikipedia as search options, the in-browser promotion of Perplexity suggests deeper interest in user-facing AI technology.
Perplexity recently launched its own browser, Comet, to compete with Google Chrome, adding further intrigue to its potential collaboration with Mozilla.
Details regarding how many users or which regions are included in the test remain unconfirmed.
However, the outcome could decide whether Perplexity becomes a permanent fixture in Firefox's suite of search tools.
Mozilla also plans to prompt users with updated terms of use upon startup in coming updates.