More transparent options surrounding Machine Learning settings OR ability to disable ALL ML/AI in the settings.

MMcRae — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 12:32:13 GMT

I have quite a low end PC, it works well enough for me and frankly I do NOT have the money to upgrade my rig. I recently noticed Firefox started CHUGGING PC resources and freezing, not loading pages, etc while performing tasks as simple as accessing a single page in a single tab.

Because I'd been complaining about a recent drop in Firefox performance, a friend sent me a tumblr post with an article detailing Firefoxs recent roll-out of machine learning features built in to the browser, which were all enabled by default with NO notification that this had occurred. I had to access advanced settings/config to DISABLE ALL ML-related features at the base level in order to see an improvement. This is despite combing the standard mozilla settings for ANY indication of ML/AI 'features' repeatedly beforehand as I'd heard Firefox was implementing it.

For a brand and program that prides itself on transparency to FORCIBLY enable ML features that I AM NEVER GOING TO USE because I simply do NOT keep that many tabs open? Is absolutely bananas to me. I regularly update my browser on the good-faith basis that updates are going to IMPROVE my security and experience, but this has absolutely soured my view of Firefox. I regularly try and recommend Firefox to people like my family who complain about AI/bloat with other browsers, and who are genuinely concerned with the privacy violations of Chromium based browsers once I tell them. I HATE to think how I'm gonna explain disabling this garbage to my mother over the phone.

TL;DR: Forcibly installing and enabling Machine Learning 'features' with no easy option to opt-out despite them hogging resources and rendering the whole browser nonfunctional is a move I expect from Microsoft. Not Mozilla. I really really like Firefox too, but I WILL be looking for alternative browsers.

Re: More transparent options surrounding Machine Learning settings OR ability to disable ALL ML/AI in the settings.

palace261 — Sun, 23 Nov 2025 03:56:04 GMT

In the short term you may find the LibreWolf browser has better default settings for privacy. I’ve also found it runs snappier on an older PC than standard Firefox does these days with its increasing levels of bloat.

Eventually LadyBird may become the independent alternative to Firefox we can all consider switching to if Mozilla doesn’t heed our feedback here.

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More transparent options surrounding Machine Learning settings OR ability to disable ALL ML/AI in the settings.

Re: More transparent options surrounding Machine Learning settings OR ability to disable ALL ML/AI in the settings.