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Chris Remington@beehaw.orgM to Technology@beehaw.org · 2 days ago

Firefox is adding a switch to turn AI features off

www.theverge.com

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Firefox is adding a switch to turn AI features off

www.theverge.com

Chris Remington@beehaw.orgM to Technology@beehaw.org · 2 days ago
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An AI killswitch.
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  • IntrovertTurtle@lemmy.zip
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    2 days ago

    It should be opt-in, not opt-out.

    • Gorluk@piefed.zip
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      Ideally, but it’s a step in the right direction

      Overall, it would be cool if it asked that on first launch.

    • CosmicTurtle0 [he/him]@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      I’m okay with Opt-Out so long as it’s clearly marked.

      I shouldn’t have to go into the config or click through 7 layers of UI just to opt out.

      That said, this is a reminder that Firefox is no longer open source. It’s source available and you should use Waterfox or LibreWolf if you want a browser based on Firefox but without AI out of the box.

      • Blisterexe@lemmy.zip
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        2 days ago

        That said, this is a reminder that Firefox is no longer open source. It’s source available

        How so? It’s still licensed under the MPL, an open source license.

        • CosmicTurtle0 [he/him]@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          1 day ago

          Mozilla are using a similar model to Microsoft and open sourcing Firefox code under the MPL while distributing the executable under a new Terms of Service.

          Firefox (the executable) is no longer considered FOSS since they can revoke your license at anytime. I posted a comment that details my personal view of this change.

          TL;DR: they would have only done this if they planned on farming user data. And last month announced that they intend to do just that.

  • thorhop@sopuli.xyz
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    2 days ago

    “Would you like an opt-out in these trying times?”

    It’s because of opt-out that these are trying times, you sonofabitch.

  • James R Kirk@startrek.website
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    2 days ago

    What exactly are the AI features everyone is talking about? The only one I’ve encountered is the “long click to preview link” and it’s… not super useful but far from annoying like Copilot.

    • locuester@lemmy.zip
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      Yeah all I have is a useless summarize button that I just don’t click. If I needed it I would, seems useful. But I don’t really need it for anything. I like to read.

      • James R Kirk@startrek.website
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        2 days ago

        Right, exactly. It also takes 3-4 seconds to load in which time I could have just middle clicked and loaded it in the background. Maybe on mobile I’d use it but only in rare circumstances.

  • its_me_xiphos@beehaw.org
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    2 days ago

    Is there an alternative at this point? I tried Brave on a recommendation and its got AI integrated from default with opt out required.

    • L3ft_F13ld!@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      2 days ago

      LibreWolf and IronFox are forks that completely remove the AI stuff (among other privacy tweaks) as far as I’m aware.

      People have also been recommending Waterfox quite often recently.

    • claudinec@beehaw.org
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      2 days ago

      There’s Vivaldi which is Chromium and not open source, but AFAIK is currently the only big browser that is explicitly not going to include AI features.

    • leriotdelac@lemmy.zip
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      2 days ago

      And also Zen browser, also Firefox fork. Quite a few options exist.

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