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Can they just focus on the browser? I really don’t need the AI stuff.
The issue is that Firefox alone doesn’t pay the bills and I’d imagine they really want to get away from being dependent on the Google deal they have.
We don’t need AI stuff but if they can get some good funding from it, they can put more into the browser
so they build the thing that pretty much everyone is running at a loss…
how will putting AI in Firefox get them funding?
That’s not what they’re doing. They’re going to focus on two separate products: Firefox and AI.
And maybe merge the two, like adding a tldr feature to reader mode, instead of an obnoxious sidebar like a lot of browsers right now
Mozilla seized an opportunity to bring trustworthy AI into Firefox
Therefore, as part of the changes today, we will be bringing together Pocket, Content, and the AI/ML teams supporting content with the Firefox Organization
This is from the Mozilla release. The second quote does say “Firefox Organization” and not “Firefox”, but it seems clear they are planning on integrating AI into Firefox.
But, I’ve reread @NotSteve_'s comment and they were saying the funding earned from AI could be put into Firefox, not AI itself. NotSteve wasn’t claiming that putting AI into Firefox would bring in more funding, only that AI could be a separate source of revenue. So my question is moot.
If AI stays, Mozilla would be better off to still have some irons in the fire.
I wish they’d do both but separately
Focusing on FF: Yay!
Adding AI to FF: NOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooo!
I mean, a local-only AI would be really cool to have, especially if they need to be competitive against Google and Microsoft with Edge who are investing significant ressources in AI and are trying various ways to integrate it into their products
thanks ollama
Mozilla downsizes as it
refocuses on Firefox and AIdrops multiple products and layoff 60 so that its current budget can accomodate the stratospheric compensation of its new CEO.fuuk this AI bubble. the browser is one place where ai is not needed
One feature that is currently using a trained model for local processing is Firefox Translations. There are good use for AI that can enhance privacy, but yeah the trend of slapping AI on everything because it is trendy to do so must end.
Actually I think AI in browser could potentially become a much more effective content blocker than ad blockers like ublock in the future.
I recall there being at least one content blocker that worked by heuristics instead of rulesets. Cannot remember the name, but it was clearly not as effective as conventional ones, because not all ads look the same and usually people want to block the invisible trackers as well.
You only need Bayesian filters for that IMHO.
I dunno, having a free, open model made by a trusted company would be nice. I like initiatives like Mozilla Voice, this could be something similar. Probably not great if it’s replacing focus on the other things though.
100% agreed. I just hope whatever this AI they are thinking isnt about what info I should consume. What the AI think is good doesnt mean its the only info I should consume.
it refocuses on Firefox
🤩
and AI
😩
I love Firefox. Don’t screw it up, Mozilla.
Bet
Sigh, and here I was, thinking Microsoft trying to shove its useless (to me) AI down my throat at every opportunity was annoying… Quo vadis Mozilla, what are you guys doing… :(
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Ai is coming either way. It’s not really avoidable, and if Mozilla were to divest from that area too they would set themselves up for failure. A few years down the road all browsers will have some sort of ai integration, perhaps large parts of the web too. If Mozilla doesn’t keep up it will just become entirely irrelevant and the internet will be fully controlled by google and its chromium bs.
Besides, what they did so far is really neat and how I would like to see ai integrated: offline translation features on your local device, not somewhere under control of some corporation. More of that please
Unfortunately Mozilla’s brand new CEO is a McKinsey ghoul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chamberslaura/
She spent 2 yrs at McK 20+ yrs ago - hardly a personality-defining milestone, given how a lot of business students start their career in consulting.
I mean that’s pretty standard for a McKinsey ghoul:
- Step 1: go to an ivy league college, get a business degree
- Step 2: work for McKinsey for a few years as an associate
- Step 3: get a job at a McKinsey client leapfrogging everyone else into management/c-suite
- Step 4: hire McKinsey to bring their arrogant children into your org and screw things up
Everything about her subsequent career has been going from one upper management/c-suite role in a tech company to another. This is not the resume of a person who should be running a nonprofit that controls the most important open source project on the internet. But beyond that just look at what she’s done in her one month at Mozilla:
-
- Massive round of layoffs
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- “Focus on {buzzword}” where {buzzword} in this case is AI
That’s straight out of the McKinsey playbook.
For once I see legitimate criticism about Mozilla without the Lunduke part. And the worst part is that just like Emily, Laura will be protected from all scrutiny just because she is a woman. It will not matter that she is a capitalist from McKinsey, or that she will eat away at developers’ salaries and walk away happily with no consequences. Maybe we will see again, just like Emily, beach photos with arrogance and insults?
Terrible times for Mozilla. AI obsession is just extra damage.
Laura will be protected from all scrutiny just because she is a woman
Lol what, no. It’s because she’s for all intents and purposes the CEO, and better yet, an overly paid CEO. When’s the last time you’ve seen the CEO getting their comeuppance?
The figurehead is chosen selectively, most likely for political purposes, since Mozilla wants to relate to California rather than Florida. Emily was not competent at all, and Laura somehow comes from McKinsey to handle a non-profit giant. There are plenty people worthy of running Mozilla that are not capitalist leeches.
You rarely stay very long in those companies nowadays. Unless you aim at becoming CEO in 20 years’ time. But otherwise, you just get your golden parachute after a couple of years of doing horrible shit.
While we resourced mozilla.social heavily to pursue this ambitious idea,
How many people do you need to administer a Mastodon instance? I’m pretty sure infosec.exchange is like one dude.
Didn’t they have acustom ui though? Also their moderation is pretty strict
Specifically, Mozilla plans to scale back its investment in a number of products, including its VPN, Relay and, somewhat remarkably, its Online Footprint Scrubber
IMO these were their best products. 🙁
Going forward, the company said in an internal memo, Mozilla will focus on bringing “trustworthy AI into Firefox.” To do so, it will bring together the teams that work on Pocket, Content and AI/Ml.
Ugh, god damn it.
I would assume they’re taking a hard look at revenue figures. I currently do use their VPN, but my impression is that it isn’t much more than a repackaging of Mullvad VPN. No idea about the other products. Is their Relay and Scrubber offering more outstanding?
The worst enemy of Mozilla is: Mozilla. This hasn’t changed in many years.
Won’t donate a cent to Mozilla unless they become a Firefox only non-profit. Fuck em.
We dont want AI or pocket you assholes. We want a secure browser. Stop wasting your money on this shit
Let’s skip the AI and give thunderbird some love instead. Then again, it’s pretty feature complete as is. Just keep it up to date to keep running and secure.
This is awful lol
That interim CEO seems like they suck; I hope they don’t stay.
