Put the AI stuff into an optional add-on

[MuteDog]

Instead of forcing AI stuff down your users throats, just put it into an add-on that users can install on the browser if they want it. If it's as great as you seem to believe, then what's the problem with making it opt-in by default instead of having to opt-out?

[wariat]

Even default addOn but with possibility to remove it / not install it all in one place!

Next step may beto make it possible for addOns to run only in p0rn mode (like now it is possible to set it to run in normal mode only).

This is the way I can think about using that stuff… in private window.

[multi1]

Seconded! I want to turn off all the AI. I don't want to any of that. If I'm forced to, I'll switch to another browser.

[theis]

I have been a Firefox user for years, ever since switching from Chrome for a more transparent browser. When the generative AI boom started, I was very, very glad that Firefox stayed out of it. The fact that Firefox had no AI features was a massive selling point, so the news that Firefox is going to "evolve into a modern AI browser," as Mozilla's new CEO put it, is deeply disappointing.

The rush towards implementing AI features hasn't lead to any demonstrable benefit for me as a consumer, and the environmental and economic repercussions behind AI leaves nothing but a sour taste in my mouth. Meanwhile, the talks about including a kill switch for the AI features are a band-aid solution in my eyes, considering how it implies that the AI features will be opt-in by default. Firefox is headed in a direction that no longer aligns with what I value, and I've already switched over to a new browser.

Kudos, Firefox. It's been good while it lasted.

[Hulkmaster]

The reason why i've migrated from Google Chrome (and other Chromium wrappers) was because Firefox was user oriented

Steam (Valve) wins market competition because it is user oriented

I do not need AI slop stuff
- I DO NOT WANT AI (microsoft/twitter/google) to read what is on my screen
- I DO NOT WANT AI to pop here and there while i'm using browser
- I WANT 2 browser versions, where one version is COMPLETELY free of AI

When i want to use AI i go in my SAFE PRIVATE ORIENTED BROWSER to chatgpt.com or something

Not alway

[craiglambie42]

This is totally correct and important. Do not bend to the will of big tech and put an AI monitoring our every move everywhere. 1984 or Brave New World - this is what they are warning about.
Not some autocrat, but an AI monitoring our every move - and eventually policing everything we do.
No thanks, no nanny state for me.

I don't really want to go browser shopping again. I just got really comfy here.

[owallstromer]

Absolutely! It is extremely frustrating to see Mozilla keeps doubling down on forcing genAI down our throats as they are doing now, where you have to go dig around in the about:config every **bleep** update to see if they added some new LLM-stuff that you have to disable. 

It adds absolutely nothing of value for me, it destroys the planet and enriches the worst people living on it, so why should I have to have it installed on my computer and be forced to disable it (but be unable to actually get completely rid of it)? 

They have a few months to start listening to their community, after that I'm switching browsers.

[Andrew_C]

I have used Firefox since the 2.x years and see it go through a lot of changes, some quite jarring at the time. I am NOT on board with the use of AI.

Mozilla should only be investing in AI if they can create new, clean LLM & diffusion models from scratch that are:

1) Ethical, and uncontaminated by plagiarised material most importantly

2) Accurate

3) Energy efficient

Adapting any existing models would fail on all 3 fronts and creating a new one from scratch would require the sort of investment Mozilla cant afford.

[overcompensk8]

Master switch please.  Don't make us mess around with about:config.  You have to realise that Firefox is now a niche product but it survives as such for a reason.  I've used it (or its codebase) since it was Navigator.  I don't want Google's unavoidable tentacles in everything I do, Microsoft is just truly awful, I want Firefox.  I even like AI.  So how can that be?  Because Firefox gives me unparalleled transparency and control.  The minute you start implementing things that compromise that is when I reluctantly, but unavoidably, have to look for another codebase fork to work with.

[tmich3a]

100% agree. If Mozilla continues to force AI on us, especially in ways that require manually disabling several settings that are not easily accessible, I will switch browsers. I've been a huge champion for Firefox, but I will not hesitate to drop it if AI does not stop being forced upon us.

[p1probe]

I agree,  AI options should be optional.   As I have seen some AI applications misbehave on some applications.    Not good when you are working on important information. 

AI's  need to be classified,  as  safe,  Not-safe, UN-predictable. 

[mfaq12345]

Its a brilliant idea

[mfaq12345]

Thanks for the suggestion. I also have the same thoughts that either AI should be optional or easy to disable. Not everyone is comfortable with using AI everywhere.

[AlbertMagellan]

I think your wishes are already being fulfilled:

Firefox on Mastodon:

Something that hasn't been made clear: Firefox will have an option to completely disable all AI features.

We've been calling it the AI kill switch internally. I'm sure it'll ship with a less murderous name, but that's how seriously and absolutely we're taking this.

---

[Dopes]

I hate the AI trash. Get it out!

[styles784]

Among users who are unconcerned about AI, Chrome is still the more popular browser by a massive margin - I wonder how profitable AI will be for Firefox when there's practically nobody using theirs?

The ideal solution would be for Mozilla to realize the folly of their current plan, but failing that, a toggle that defaults to off (and actually fully disables all AI features) is an acceptable solution.

And if all else fails, at least they gave us a three year heads-up to give other browser developers enough time to build a suitable replacement... right?