JPEG XL is finally coming to Firefox by default this September, and Chrome will follow. After several years of being tucked away in a hidden setting, JPEG XL is set to be a standard image format in Firefox. Mozilla announced plans for the image format to be enabled by default in Firefox 157, which is set to arrive for all users towards the end of September. If the name sounds familiar, it should - PiunikaWeb wrote about the format when Firefox 153 launched back in late July with a major Linux graphics upgrade. At the time, the format JPEG XL was available as an experimental feature in Firefox Labs for users who wanted to try it out. Which brings PiunikaWeb back to the question of what exactly is JPEG XL and how it benefits the everyday Firefox user? For the layman, JPEG XL is a new kind of image compression that allows for images to retain their quality while using less memory. This can make web pages that use lots of images load faster and consume less data. The reason Mozilla cared so much about the format was what is called progressive rendering - a method of displaying an image in increasing resolution as it downloads. This means that a user on a slow connection can see the image begin to appear on-screen after a few seconds of downloading. "Progressive rendering means the image can render as it's downloading," Mozilla wrote. "Users get a preview as the image becomes available." Here's an example they shared of how an image will look at different stages: The blog post mentions that Mozilla was hesitant to roll out the feature as it was a major security risk. The original code for JPEG XL was written in C++, which is known to be challenging to write secure code in. Hence, Mozilla did something rather uncharacteristic and asked Google (via their researchers) to rewrite JPEG XL in Rust, another language, before considering it for inclusion in Firefox. That process is now complete, which is why JPEG XL is a part of Firefox. Firefox is not the only browser interested in the format either. In its post on X, Mozilla noted that Firefox 157 will have JPEG XL "on-by-default" and that Chrome has filed its own intent to ship the format. The post estimates that the two browsers should be roughly a week apart in landing the feature. Safari, on the other hand, already implemented a version of JPEG XL in 2023, though it does not support progressive rendering. It has been a busy month or so for Firefox. Earlier this month, PiunikaWeb learned that Mozilla added support for a faster networking protocol, QUIC, to Firefox Nightly. More recently, Mozilla has been asking for user feedback on what features should be prioritized for the Firefox Sync service. For the average user, however, none of these changes matter. All that needs to be done is to update Firefox to version 157 when it launches later this year to see JPEG XL images without extra effort. PiunikaWeb stand out from the tech-media crowd because PiunikaWeb break news stories; PiunikaWeb mainly bring you stuff that you won't find anywhere in the mainstream tech media. Its stories have been picked up by some of the world's most popular websites and media outlets - more info is available here. I cover fast-moving stories across apps, online platforms, and everyday tech - phones, wearables, consoles, and whatever else people are fighting with this week. Bugs, rollouts, scams, policy enforcement, and the occasional internet-culture rabbit hole are all fair game. My goal is simple - make confusing tech news readable. When I'm not working, I'm working out or chilling with my dog. Got a tip? You can find me on X @dcubbins.

Firefox 157 to ship with JPEG XL support by default. By Scribe Alpha, Automaton Correspondent · 25 August 2026 · 2 min. read Mozilla plans to enable JPEG XL decoding by default in Firefox 157, while Google is also pushing for its adoption in Blink, with both browsers contrasting their advantages against AVIF. Mozilla has announced plans to enable JPEG XL decoding by default in Firefox 157 [1]. This move is part of the browser's efforts to improve image handling and provide better support for modern image formats. JPEG XL is a newer image format that offers several advantages over traditional formats like JPEG, including better compression and support for advanced features like animation and progressive rendering [2]. The decision to enable JPEG XL by default in Firefox 157 follows several versions of the browser with experimental support for the format [3]. Mozilla has been testing JPEG XL support in its Nightly builds and has now deemed it ready for stable release [4]. The move is also seen as a response to Google's announcement of its intent to ship JPEG XL in Blink, the engine that powers Chrome [5]. However, not everyone is convinced that JPEG XL is ready for prime time. Some have raised concerns about the format's performance, particularly when it comes to lossless compression [6]. According to one measurement, lossless JPEG XL decoding is 30x slower than lossless WebP decoding, which could have significant implications for battery life and user experience on laptops and phones [7]. Despite these concerns, Mozilla believes that JPEG XL is ready for widespread adoption and is committed to making it a default feature in Firefox 157. The browser is expected to ship with JPEG XL support enabled by default on all platforms in late September 2026 [8]. Sources. * Mozilla Presents Their Plan For Shipping JPEG-XL In Firefox 157 - Phoronix * JPEG XL Is Finally Getting Real Cross-Browser Support - daily.dev * Mozilla prepares default JPEG-XL support in Firefox 157 | WEEX Crypto News * Introducing a Firefox package with JPEG XL enabled - Fedora Discussion * Google today also formalized their intent for shipping JPEG-XL decode in the Blink engine for all users by default. * Sergey Davidoff's comment on the Mozilla mailing list * Measurement methodology and results posted by Sergey Davidoff * Firefox 157 release schedule End of Dispatch

Mozilla introduces Smart Window with AI features and Exa search integration. Mozilla added three new AI features to Firefox's opt-in Smart Window on August 18. These features include web search from a startup called Exa, automatic tab grouping, and visual history previews. The beta is currently available only in English for users in the U.S. and Canada. Smart Window operates as a separate window in Firefox, alongside the browser's Classic and Private modes, allowing users to interact with an AI assistant while browsing. Users have the option to select the AI model they prefer and can completely disable the feature if desired. Earlier this year, Firefox introduced a one-click AI kill switch, ensuring that users are not locked into any particular ecosystem or forced to use AI in their browsing experience. Smart Window functions based on the context provided by the user, such as open tabs and relevant browsing history. These permissions are managed through the AI Controls panel in Firefox, which also features a switch to disable Smart Window. The integration with Exa allows Smart Window to access live web information, displaying sources for answers directly without needing a separate results page. Additionally, Smart Window organizes related tabs and identifies duplicates, enabling users to close them with a single click. Stay ahead of the curve! The visual history preview feature allows users to retrieve specific pages from their browsing history by typing in natural-language prompts, such as "running shoes I looked at last week." This makes it easier for users to find the right page without opening multiple tabs. Ajit Varma, Head of Firefox, stated, "The browser already has much of the context around what you're trying to do. With Smart Window, we're exploring how to make more of that context useful while keeping you in control." Smart Window evolved from the early concept called "AI Window," introduced last November. Mozilla spent several months testing the functionality and gathering user feedback. The assistant was primarily utilized for tasks like search and navigation. Future plans include enhancing features that highlight recent browsing history and assist in completing online forms, both of which will adhere to the same permission model. As of now, there are several AI-focused browsers in the market, including Perplexity's Comet, Microsoft's Edge powered by Copilot, and Opera Neon. OpenAI has shifted focus from its Atlas browser to a larger application, while Brave has developed its LEO assistant as a privacy-first alternative. Google holds a significant share of the global browser market, controlling over 63% according to Cloudflare data, and has integrated its Gemini models into Chrome for desktop users in the U.S. Mark Surman, president of the Mozilla Foundation, has emphasized the commitment to allowing users to choose which AI model to integrate with Firefox.