Firefox quietly starts testing Perplexity AI as a built-in search engine

Mozilla is making its first official move toward AI-powered search in Firefox. As part of a new experiment, Perplexity AI is now being offered as an optional search engine directly in the browser’s address bar. Here’s how to try it.

A test running on select countries, but with a global workaround

As noted by Windows Report, the integration is still in the early stages. Perplexity won’t appear as your default search engine just yet, but Firefox users in select countries can now select it from the unified search button that shows up when typing a query.

Mozilla describes Perplexity as an engine focused on delivering direct, conversational answers, a pitch that puts it in the same emerging category as Google’s AI Overviews.

One interesting side note: instead of making a formal announcement on its blog, Mozilla quietly confirmed the experiment in a thread on its Connect community forum.

For now, the test is officially limited to users in the U.S., U.K., and Germany, but anyone can manually add Perplexity as a search option using this simple workaround:

1. Open Firefox and go to perplexity.ai.
2. Type a search query in the Firefox address bar, but don’t press Return.
3. When the dropdown suggestions appear, select the “Search with Perplexity” option.
4. After running a few searches this way, Firefox should prompt you to add Perplexity as a saved search engine.
5. Once added, you’ll also get a new @perplexity keyword shortcut for faster searching.

Mozilla steps up its AI feature experiments

Mozilla says this is part of an experiment gauging how users feel about AI-based search engines inside Firefox. This means that more AI-powered options could follow depending on feedback, which is something that the company has started moving towards in recent weeks.

Are you a Firefox user? Are you willing to adopt Perplexity as your default search engine? Let us know in the comments.

Keep track of your essentials with the Apple AirTag 4 Pack, the ultimate tracking solution for your belongings. With over 5,972 ratings and a stellar 4.7-star average, this product has quickly become a customer favorite. Over 10,000 units were purchased in the past month, solidifying its status as a highly rated Amazon Choice product.

For just $79.98, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your items are always within reach. Order now for only $79.98 at Amazon!

Help Power Techcratic’s Future – Scan To Support

If Techcratic’s content and insights have helped you, consider giving back by supporting the platform with crypto. Every contribution makes a difference, whether it’s for high-quality content, server maintenance, or future updates. Techcratic is constantly evolving, and your support helps drive that progress.

As a solo operator who wears all the hats, creating content, managing the tech, and running the site, your support allows me to stay focused on delivering valuable resources. Your support keeps everything running smoothly and enables me to continue creating the content you love. I’m deeply grateful for your support, it truly means the world to me! Thank you!