Firefox Is Rolling Out Three New Features for 'Smart Window'

Aug 18, 2026 08:00 PM - 3 hours ago 3
Jake Peterson is Lifehacker’s Tech Editor, and has been covering tech news and how-tos for astir a decade. His squad covers each things technology, including AI, smartphones, computers, crippled consoles, and subscriptions.

If you for illustration to beryllium connected the cutting edge, you mightiness cognize astir Firefox's "Smart Window" feature—formerly "AI Window." If not, here's an intro: Smart Window is Firefox's return connected an AI web browsing assistant. You tin usage the chat characteristic to inquire wide questions (like you would pinch ChatGPT, Gemini, aliases Claude) aliases nonstop queries astir the pages you're looking at. The characteristic lives successful Firefox's paper bar: You tin prosecute it whenever you want—with 3 models to take from—and unopen it disconnected conscionable the same.

Since Firefox's full schtick is privacy-first, it emphasizes really nary of your interactions pinch AI Window are utilized to train Mozilla's models, and your information is ne'er sold to 3rd parties—similar to DuckDuckGo's attack to AI. But Mozilla says that it changed Smart Window passim its first beta testing period. While the characteristic is still successful beta, the institution is now announcing much updates coming down the pike.

New features coming to Firefox's Smart Window

On Tuesday morning, the institution officially revealed 3 caller Smart Window features that beta testers tin now return advantage of. First, Mozilla announced a caller measurement to browse the net for answers without really leaving your existent window. The acquisition comes done a business pinch Exa, and lets you look up web info pinch sources without leaving for a caller hunt results page. I suppose it's a caller return connected utilizing 2 windows successful split-screen—though I usually don't find it difficult to do a speedy hunt successful a caller tab and adjacent it erstwhile I'm done.

Second, Smart Window now supports automatic tab groups. If your Firefox model has aggregate tabs, Smart Window tin propose groups for tabs that are akin to 1 another. This is thing other browsers for illustration Chrome person implemented for immoderate clip now, but a first for Firefox, which antecedently only offered manual tab groups. Finally, Smart Window will beryllium capable to show you "visual previews" of the pages successful your browsing history. The thought is to make it easier to spot the pages you're looking for successful your integer past, alternatively than hunt done various text-based URLs.

Mozilla wants Smart Window to retrieve what you do successful Firefox

Mozilla wants Smart Window to beryllium much than Firefox pinch a chatbot. Following personification feedback, the institution is moving connected features that would support tabs connected what you do successful Firefox, successful the sanction of making it easier to prime up wherever you near disconnected last. The thought is, alternatively than reasoning done what you were looking up earlier successful the day, aliases trying to retrieve the sites you were browsing past night, you tin inquire Smart Window to thief you get backmost to it. In that way, it's akin to features for illustration ChatGPT's Computer History, which tracks your wide machine usage truthful you tin inquire the bot questions astir what you did connected your Mac.

What do you deliberation truthful far?

Mozilla says that successful the adjacent future, you'll beryllium capable to propulsion up "recent browsing journeys" from Smart Window, pulling from your tabs and history, truthful you tin efficaciously return to a erstwhile browsing session. While browsing history has been a modular for decades, really galore of america really want our browsers keeping a dedicated log of everything we do each session? I deliberation I'd alternatively deliberation for a fewer moments astir what I was doing last—or astatine the very slightest constitute down notes to myself—rather than fto Firefox way my each move.

In addition, the institution is moving connected adding an AI form-filler, similar to devices advertised by Google astatine I/O. This is the type of AI characteristic I ideate much group will beryllium unfastened to: I'd alternatively Firefox to beryllium amended astatine filling retired forms connected my behalf, than "remember" what I did Monday night. But possibly I'd alternatively support its AI distant from both:

All of Firefox's AI features are optional

Like each of Firefox's AI features, Smart Window is wholly optional. Not only tin you toggle it connected aliases disconnected astatine immoderate time, but you tin besides wholly disable it, arsenic good arsenic each different AI features. While moreover Firefox has jumped connected the AI bandwagon, it's adjuvant to connection easy ways to artifact these caller additions for users who want a traditional, elemental web browsing experience.

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