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PayPalJust like Google plan with Chrome, Mozilla aren't sitting still on expanding Firefox into something resembling a web browser but with more AI.
As announced today on the Mozilla blog, they've got a new CEO with Anthony Enzor-DeMeo. Here's a short but important excerpt on the future of Firefox from the post (emphasis ours):
As Mozilla moves forward, we will focus on becoming the trusted software company. This is not a slogan. It is a direction that guides how we build and how we grow. It means three things.
- First: Every product we build must give people agency in how it works. Privacy, data use, and AI must be clear and understandable. Controls must be simple. AI should always be a choice — something people can easily turn off. People should know why a feature works the way it does and what value they get from it.
- Second: our business model must align with trust. We will grow through transparent monetization that people recognize and value.
- Third: Firefox will grow from a browser into a broader ecosystem of trusted software. Firefox will remain our anchor. It will evolve into a modern AI browser and support a portfolio of new and trusted software additions.
You should read the full post to form your own opinion on it, but regular readers will know my thoughts on AI quite well by now. Companies everywhere are scrambling to force AI into where it isn't needed, or wanted, and all it ends up doing is causing the complete enshittification of whatever it is.
If they really wanted to give us privacy and agency in how we use it, they would give us a very simple opt-out for all AI features. But like other companies and organisations - they won't, because they need to force people into it to make numbers go up. They say we should be able to easily turn it off, but I'll believe that when I see it as a clear option to disable it all.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
About the author - Liam Dawe
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly.
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fenglengshun 13 hours ago
I already said it in the past - Mozilla would LOVE to be Google instead of just being unofficial Google subsidiary IF they had the chance.
People thought just because they're the non-Chromium alternative that they're noble, forgetting ALL the stuff they did or tried to do for the last ten years.
I never forgot nor forgive the Mr. Robot fiasco.
People thought just because they're the non-Chromium alternative that they're noble, forgetting ALL the stuff they did or tried to do for the last ten years.
I never forgot nor forgive the Mr. Robot fiasco.
3 Likes
Linux_Rocks 13 hours ago
Andele andele mami, A.I, A.I (uh-oh)
What's poppin' tonight?
What's poppin' tonight?
0 Likes
But it can easily be turned off....if you root around in about:config that the system explicitly tells you *not* to do and change a bunch of stuff. This will be enough of a barrier to stop most people from doing it, particularly the less technical minded.
As someone on Mastodon said, "I don't want a virus on my hard drive even if it's turned off".
As someone on Mastodon said, "I don't want a virus on my hard drive even if it's turned off".
6 Likes
So, Ive been testing Brave and Vivaldi and both seem usable and fast, but I read where Brave is more open source.
Are either of these better than the other? are there better options out there?
Are either of these better than the other? are there better options out there?
0 Likes
i have been using firefox since it was netscape... ok i skiped firebird, but im pretty sure i use it since the version 1.0 or close to it.
now i think i will ditch it for good.
so long and thanks for all the fish.
now i think i will ditch it for good.
so long and thanks for all the fish.
1 Likes
Quoting: 1xokPerhaps we can use AI to program a completely normal web browser?Funny you should mention this, I watched a YouTube video created by Dave Plummer of "Dave's Garage". Most Linux users probably do not watch Dave's videos. His channel description is:
Dave takes you on a forty-year journey as a software engineer including working on every Microsoft operating system from MS-DOS through Windows XP and Server 2003. He discusses Microsoft Windows...In the video listed below, he uses AI to create a Windows application that is like the NotePad that was included with Windows XP. He wanted to "un-improved" Notepad because he was tired of the new features and functionality that Microsoft added, particularly those driven by AI. To achieve this "un-improvement," Dave uses OpenAI's GPT Codex Max 5.1 in "extra high" mode to generate a complete clone of the Windows XP Notepad, which he names "RetroPad."
Microsoft “Improved” Notepad. I Un-Improved It.
https://youtu.be/bmBd39OwvWg?si=7Rsk4oxsv-e6XuFX
I love this quote from the video:
Well, if it's AI that's making the problems, it better be AI that's solving those problems.
1 Likes
I switched to Waterfox a year ago and I've never looked back. Best decision I've ever made.
I did a lot of research too before settling on it. I wanted a browser that has feature parity with regular Firefox, but doesn't add a crap ton of unnecessary extras. I just want Firefox, but without the crap. That's Waterfox.
I've seen people recommend brave and all these other different browsers, but that's just chromium. Waterfox doesn't try to give you a bunch of extra stuff you don't want.
I've only ever had like, one website mess up with it, and I had to use a user agent switcher to make it think I was using Firefox.
I also use Waterfox on my android phone. The experience is great. Highly recommend it.
I did a lot of research too before settling on it. I wanted a browser that has feature parity with regular Firefox, but doesn't add a crap ton of unnecessary extras. I just want Firefox, but without the crap. That's Waterfox.
I've seen people recommend brave and all these other different browsers, but that's just chromium. Waterfox doesn't try to give you a bunch of extra stuff you don't want.
I've only ever had like, one website mess up with it, and I had to use a user agent switcher to make it think I was using Firefox.
I also use Waterfox on my android phone. The experience is great. Highly recommend it.
1 Likes
Every company forcing AI into everything is honestly just a bad move. It's a buzz word and it's ruining everything.
1 Likes
Quoting: ElectricPrismIF YOU ARE NOT THE CUSTOMER YOU ARE THE PRODUCT.These days, quite often if you ARE the customer you are STILL the product. Various execs realized why have one income stream when you can have two?
2 Likes
I always thought what a web browser was for, was to go to the place on the web I told it to go to, and show me what's there. I don't see how AI helps with that. And even if I can opt out, and even if the AI doesn't do anything too pernicious, if the people making my browser are doing this all-in, bet the farm, put all their effort into the AI . . . then presumably they don't have a whole lot of effort left over to make the browser not suck.
1 Likes
Quoting: Liam DaweI mean I know the Mozilla hate train is always loaded with pitchforks and ready to leave the station, but isn't that a bit disingenuous? So far Mozilla have stayed true to their first statement and AI is always optional. Should that change I will uninstall Firefox in a heartbeat but until then I'm perfectly happy with it as my default browser. I don't see AI being any different from other services like search, email etc in that I will use it if it respects my privacy.Quoting: kuhpunktWhat does that even mean.It means you will use AI and you will like it. There is no escape. Consume!
0 Likes
Don't read too much into that. It's just a slogan for investors. When the ai bubble bursts, everything will go back to normal.
0 Likes
Arehandoro 3 hours ago
I'm really interested in Servo, but not quite there yet. I like Epiphany, but its extension support is not quite there yet either (I mainly need ublock, bitwarden and vertical tabs). Is LibreWolf the only remaining option?
0 Likes
Liam Dawe 2 hours ago
Quoting: BrokattWell no, because right now it's just words, the settings to turn it all off are hidden behind flags you have to know how to find to disable.Quoting: Liam DaweI mean I know the Mozilla hate train is always loaded with pitchforks and ready to leave the station, but isn't that a bit disingenuous? So far Mozilla have stayed true to their first statement and AI is always optional. Should that change I will uninstall Firefox in a heartbeat but until then I'm perfectly happy with it as my default browser. I don't see AI being any different from other services like search, email etc in that I will use it if it respects my privacy.Quoting: kuhpunktWhat does that even mean.It means you will use AI and you will like it. There is no escape. Consume!
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If someone is interested, Alex Kontos (Waterfox) made a response to this statement https://www.waterfox.com/blog/no-ai-here-response-to-mozilla/
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Quoting: CreepioI wanted a browser that has feature parity with regular Firefox, but doesn't add a crap ton of unnecessary extras. I just want Firefox, but without the crap.it still has the tabs on top, though ;p
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Quoting: CharlieTheMadHatterIt's sad to see Mozilla making the same bad choices. Prioritizing shareholder profits seems to come above everything else.It's nonprofit. So, are this shareholder profits in room with you?
Firefox go extinct. This is not plan of some evil shareholders. This is attempt to get some traction and make enough income to survive. Just reminder, without firefox, forks also die. Librewolf included.
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Every time someone mentions declining market share and uses that as a reason to introduce something horrible into Firefox, I (figuratively) bang my head on the wall. They have an audience – users that care about privacy, customizability and being different than Chrome. And they do everything they can to drive them away in favour of some imaginary Chrome users that can be convinced to switch over to a Chrome-copy and has the technical knowledge to make the switch. That does not make sense.
They will always be the nerd that imitates the popular jock and ends up alienating everyone.
They will always be the nerd that imitates the popular jock and ends up alienating everyone.
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