Linus Tech Tips Discussion

s as to whether the first point from the blog would be respected indefinitely as multiple new features are enabled by default instead of being opt-in.    Mozilla started rolling out AI features to the browser this year despite the dismay of many of it users, which can be viewed under about:config by typing "browser.ml."   This ever growing list of AI/ML related features are upsetting the users as each option has to be manually turned off, as seen expressed in this reddit post whenever someone mentions "just turn the features off."    More posts are popping up warning users to pause their updates, expressing their disappointment as long time users, and discuss how Mozilla's priorities as a private company doesn't align with its userbase's wishes. The community is also concerned that Mozilla might try to become more corporate and "Google-like" as more features are implemented.   Quote From Firefox's subreddit post "An open letter to Mozilla’s new CEO: Firefox doesn’t need AI, it needs leadership that listens", posted 11 hours ago by u/nseavia71501 "Ironically, in a post announcing this new direction and highlighting "agency and choice," there was little mention of user input or feedback. This highlights a disconnect that many of us experience daily: Mozilla has a pattern of struggling to implement and support basic features, and much of the time fails to even acknowledge serious user feedback." (...) "Firefox doesn't need to become Google or Microsoft to succeed by both business and user standards. It's beloved precisely because it's not. I hope that distinction isn't lost as Mozilla enters its "next chapter" as part of a "broader ecosystem of trusted software."    As a result of the blog, many Firefox forks have been receiving more traffic as users migrated over. Waterfox's Alex Kontos posted his response to Mozilla's post, acknowledging the predicament Mozilla faces within the browser economy and questions whether this will be a good move. Waterfox won't implement AI features anytime soon.   Quote Mozilla promises that “AI should always be a choice - something people can easily turn off.” That’s fine. But how do you keep track of what a black box actually does when it’s turned on? How do you audit its behaviour? How do you know it’s not quietly reshaping your browsing experience in ways you haven’t noticed? (...) Mozilla speaks about trust, transparency, and user agency while simultaneously embracing technology that undermines all three principles. They promise AI will be optional, but that promise acknowledges they’re building AI so deeply into Firefox that an opt-out mechanism becomes necessary in the first place. (...) Waterfox will not include LLMs. Full stop. At least and most definitely not in their current form or for the foreseeable future. My thoughts      It's too early to say how much this will impact the future experi