Perplexity AI Now Available as a Search Option in Firefox
Mozilla has quietly added Perplexity AI as a supported search engine in its popular Firefox browser with the release of Firefox 139. As the competition for AI-powered search intensifies, Perplexity joins ChatGPT in carving out a small yet growing share of the global search market, reportedly around 1% of all queries. This update positions Firefox as one of the first major browsers to integrate an AI-native search experience, offering users an alternative to Google Search.
What Is Perplexity AI, and How Does It Differ from Google?
Perplexity AI is an AI-powered search engine designed to deliver direct, conversational answers instead of traditional lists of web links. Unlike Google’s standard search, Perplexity summarizes results from multiple sources in a visually appealing, easy-to-read format, similar to Google’s new AI Overviews feature.
Additional benefits of Perplexity include
- Better typo and grammar correction
- Conversational query handling
- Summarized, contextual responses
- Fast, accurate AI-powered information retrieval
How to Use Perplexity AI as a Search Engine in Firefox
Although Mozilla has not made a formal announcement, it confirmed the update via a thread on its ‘Connect’ community forum. Users in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany currently have official access as part of the rollout.
If you’re outside these regions or didn’t receive the update, there’s a simple workaround to use Perplexity as your search engine in Firefox:
Steps to Enable Perplexity Search in Firefox:
- Open Firefox and go to https://www.perplexity.ai.
- Type your query in the address bar (not the Perplexity site’s search bar).
- From the dropdown suggestions, select “Search with Perplexity.”
- After a few uses, Firefox will prompt you to add Perplexity as a default search engine.
- Once added, use the @perplexity keyword shortcut to search faster.
This feature leverages Firefox’s unified search button, allowing you to seamlessly toggle between traditional engines and AI-powered tools.
Why Mozilla’s Move Matters
The addition of Perplexity AI to Firefox reflects a broader trend in the search engine landscape, where Google’s dominance is slowly being challenged. AI-native tools like Perplexity and ChatGPT are drawing attention for their intelligent search summaries and user-focused design.
This development is particularly significant as:
- More users seek AI-generated answers over traditional search lists.
- Browsers evolve to support intelligent search workflows.
- Developers and power users look for alternatives to Big Tech ecosystems.
Mozilla’s early adoption of AI search options could pave the way for a new era of smarter, streamlined internet browsing.
With the Firefox 139 update, Mozilla is leaning into the future of search by integrating AI-first search engines like Perplexity AI. This move not only provides users with a richer, conversational browsing experience but also signals a shift toward more intelligent, contextual internet navigation.
