Mozilla’s latest Firefox update, version 141, introduced AI-powered tab grouping designed to organize tabs automatically by topic and suggest group names.
However, users report that this AI integration is causing serious performance problems, including heavy CPU usage and rapid battery drain, far from a sleek productivity boost.
AI tab grouping triggers unexpected CPU and battery drain
The AI feature runs a local on-device model that detects related tabs and manages groups. Users on the Firefox subreddit have highlighted the “Inference” process, the component handling AI tasks, as the major culprit behind CPU spikes.
One user said, “I don’t want this garbage bloating my browser, blowing up my CPU, and killing my battery life,” describing the feature as unnecessary and damaging to system performance.
This AI inference process can push CPU usage to extreme levels, sometimes exceeding 100% according to Firefox’s about: processes status page.
The result is a drained battery, noisy fans, and sluggish system performance. Some users noted that killing the inference process crashes Firefox, leaving no easy way to mitigate the problem without disabling the feature entirely.
Why is Firefox’s AI feature so resource-heavy?
Critics speculate that Mozilla’s choice to use Microsoft’s Open Neural Network Exchange (ONNX) format for local AI models might contribute to inefficiencies.
Alternative AI model formats reportedly offer better performance and less resource consumption, but Firefox currently relies on ONNX, which may be less optimized for local device execution.
Mozilla’s gradual rollout strategy means not all users have this AI feature yet, and those with powerful machines might not notice these hiccups.
However, the growing complaints indicate the issue is widespread enough to affect user experience significantly.
Mozilla has not explicitly addressed the AI-related resource concerns in recent patches. For example, no fixes for CPU or battery issues were mentioned in the 141.0.2 and 141.0.3 update notes released in early August.
How to turn off Firefox’s AI features to restore performance
For users impacted by the slowdown, there is a way to turn off the AI features via Firefox’s advanced configuration. By typing `about: config` in the browser address bar and changing specific keys, users can turn off the AI chatbot (`browser.ml.chat.enabled`) and smart tab grouping (`browser.tabs.groups.smart.enabled`). Doing this drastically reduces CPU usage and battery drain.
With these options available, users frustrated by Firefox’s AI bloat can regain control and avoid the performance penalties until Mozilla optimizes or rethinks the AI integration.
This situation serves as a reminder that integrating AI into everyday tools like browsers must balance innovation with user impact, especially regarding essential resources like CPU power and battery life.
Firefox’s AI tab grouping feature promised convenience, but instead has sparked a backlash over performance costs many did not expect.