Firefox announces refresh

The Firefox web browser is getting a major visual makeover that will bring a revamped settings section to users. The main goal of this change is to make it easier to find and manage privacy features, including a dedicated switch to completely disable all existing and future AI-related tools. Mozilla has dubbed this ambitious project “Project Nova” and plans to gradually roll it out to users over the coming months.

The browser's visuals will now be much softer, with all UI elements, including tabs, getting rounded lines. The overall look will be complemented by a refreshed color palette inspired by fire, and Mozilla will also update the icons to work more harmoniously in both light and dark modes.

Mozilla is taking a very different approach to AI than its competitor Google Chrome. Firefox doesn't download AI models to a user's computer unless they choose to use them. Even if the switch to completely block AI isn't activated, the browser now provides a very simple overview of the installed models and the space they take up, which is much more transparent than Chrome's massive 4 gigabyte data transfer.

Although the full redesign won't be live until later this year, Mozilla has already released Firefox 151, which brings some immediate improvements. Among them is support for the Web Serial API, which allows websites to directly control external devices or install firmware without the need for special local applications. The latest version of the browser also brings an updated start page, new wallpapers, and the convenient ability to combine multiple PDF files directly in the built-in viewer.

For greater productivity, the new look also brings back the popular Compact mode, which squeezes the navigation buttons and frees up more screen space. At the same time, developers will make it easier to access advanced features such as tab groups, split screen view and vertical tabs. Project Nova will also offer even more personalization options with new backgrounds and color themes that will cover the entire browser window in a light or dark look. Mozilla adds that they are already exploring options that allow users to change the shape of tabs and other graphical elements themselves.