Prime Highlights
- Anthony Enzor-DeMeo has been appointed CEO of Mozilla as the company adapts to changes in the web browser market driven by AI.
- Under his leadership, Mozilla plans to introduce AI features in Firefox while respecting users who prefer a simpler browsing experience.
Key Facts
- Mozilla has faced slowing growth, layoffs of about 30% of its staff, and the closure of some global programs in recent years.
- The company aims to reduce reliance on search revenue from Google and expand Firefox into a broader range of trusted products and services.
Background
Mozilla has appointed Anthony Enzor-DeMeo as its new chief executive officer as the company works to adjust to major changes in the web browser market. The maker of Firefox is facing growing pressure as artificial intelligence begins to reshape how people search and browse the internet.
For years, browsers such as Firefox, Google Chrome, and Apple’s Safari dominated the market. That is now changing. New players, including Perplexity, Arc, OpenAI, and Opera, are launching browsers built around AI tools. These browsers aim to give users AI help directly inside the browser, making it the first stop for online activity.
Mozilla operates through several arms. The Mozilla Corporation builds Firefox and other products, while the nonprofit Mozilla Foundation oversees governance and long-term policies. In recent years, Mozilla has struggled with slowing growth. The company went through a restructuring, laid off about 30% of its staff last year, and shut down some advocacy and global programs.
Despite these challenges, Mozilla sees a chance to regain ground. In a blog post announcing his appointment, Enzor-DeMeo said Mozilla will invest more in AI and introduce new AI features in Firefox. At the same time, he said the company will respect users who prefer a simpler browser experience.
He emphasized that using AI should be optional, with people having the ability to disable it and a clear understanding of both how it operates and its advantages.
Mozilla also plans to reduce its reliance on search deals for revenue. A large part of its income currently comes from Google, which pays to be the default search engine in Firefox. Enzor-DeMeo said the company wants to build Firefox into a wider set of trusted products.
Mozilla already offers other services, including the Thunderbird email app, a VPN service, and an AI-powered website builder for small businesses.