If you’re a tech enthusiast, you’re probably familiar with Firefox’s innovative ‘Smart Window’ feature, formerly known as ‘AI Window.’ For those who might be new to this concept, Smart Window is Firefox’s take on an AI-powered web browsing assistant. This feature allows users to engage in a chat-like interface to ask general questions or send queries about the pages they’re currently browsing.

The Smart Window feature resides in Firefox’s menu bar, where users can easily toggle it on or off, and choose from three different models. This approach aligns with Firefox’s commitment to providing a privacy-first experience, as none of the user interactions with AI Window are used to train Mozilla’s models, and user data is never sold to third parties, much like DuckDuckGo’s approach to AI.

During its initial beta testing period, Mozilla made significant changes to Smart Window, and now the company is announcing even more updates on the horizon. As part of this effort, Firefox has officially revealed three new Smart Window features that beta testers can now take advantage of.

New Features Coming to Firefox’s Smart Window

One of the new features allows users to browse the internet for answers without leaving their current window. This innovative experience is made possible through a partnership with Exa, which enables users to look up web information with sources without having to navigate to a new search results page. This feature offers a fresh take on the traditional split-screen browsing experience, where users often open a new tab for searching and then close it once they’re done.

Another significant update is the introduction of automatic tab groups in Smart Window. If a user has multiple tabs open in their Firefox window, Smart Window can now suggest groups for tabs that are similar to one another. This feature is particularly noteworthy, as it’s a first for Firefox, which previously only offered manual tab groups. In contrast, other browsers like Chrome have implemented automatic tab grouping for some time now.

The third new feature in Smart Window is the ability to display ‘visual previews’ of the pages in a user’s browsing history. This enhancement aims to make it easier for users to identify the pages they’re looking for in their digital past, rather than having to hunt through text-based URLs. By providing a visual representation of their browsing history, Smart Window can help users quickly pick up where they left off last, making their browsing experience more efficient and convenient.

Mozilla’s vision for Smart Window extends beyond its current capabilities. The company wants to create a feature that not only assists users in their browsing but also remembers what they do in Firefox. This means that Smart Window will be able to keep track of users’ browsing habits and suggest relevant information to help them pick up where they left off. This approach is similar to features like ChatGPT’s Computer History, which tracks users’ general computer usage to provide helpful suggestions.

According to Mozilla, in the near future, users will be able to pull up ‘recent browsing journeys’ from Smart Window, which will include their browsing history and tabs. This feature will enable users to easily return to a previous browsing session, making it easier to pick up where they left off. While browsing history has been a standard feature for decades, it’s worth noting that users may have different comfort levels when it comes to their browser tracking their every move. Some users may prefer to rely on their own memory or jot down notes to themselves rather than letting their browser keep a dedicated log of their activities.

Mozilla is also working on adding an AI form-filler to Smart Window, which is a feature that’s been advertised by Google at I/O. This type of AI-powered form-filling can be a useful tool for users, as it can help them quickly complete forms and reduce the amount of time spent on mundane tasks. However, it’s worth noting that some users may be more open to this type of AI-powered feature than others.

It’s worth emphasizing that all of Firefox’s AI features, including Smart Window, are entirely optional. Users can toggle them on or off at any time, or completely disable them if they prefer a more traditional browsing experience. This approach aligns with Firefox’s commitment to providing a flexible and customizable browsing experience that caters to users’ diverse needs and preferences.