Live data from Hacker News

Firefox will have an option to disable all AI features

mastodon.social

121–130 of 554 posts

Re: Firefox will have an option to disable all AI features

#121

Could someone summarize the problem with Firefox's AI features? At least when I last checked (months ago), none of those features that involve communicating with external servers would work unless you configure them to (i.e. provide credentials to an LLM provider). Was I wrong? Have things changed?

I don't use firefox so I can't confirm, but one issue might be 15+ (?!) different config settings needed to disable AI and it still won't go away.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46095873

Re: Firefox will have an option to disable all AI features

#122
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The chatbot can provide sponsored responses. Not sure how evident those will be, but I think it will happen. Surely is in Google's mind.

If the responses are sponsored, it seems the value drops dramatically. I want the AI agent to act more like a fiduciary, an independent 3rd party acting in my best interest. I don't need an AI salesman interjecting itself into my life with compromised incentives.

Is there a reason such a thing couldn't present a bunch of neutral options, but with affiliate links that provide revenue back to Mozilla?

(I mean, that could still steer it toward places that have affiliate programs, but if you're running a local AI tool to help you search for these things that seems like something you should reasonably be able to toggle on and off/configure in a system prompt/something.)

Re: Firefox will have an option to disable all AI features

#123
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://vivaldi.com/source/

Wait, what? Vivaldi is open source? Now I am confused and really not sure what was the reason I ignored it for so long. Was there something iffy with Linux desktop integration?

It is not open source. Some of the backend is.

Re: Firefox will have an option to disable all AI features

#124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're not a normal user of Firefox then.

Who is a "normal" user. Normal users install Chrome.

We want "normal" users to use Firefox, not to push it to a smaller niche with more force. Even though I don't like or use this "AI thingy", it should be equally easy to use and equally easy to disable.

If Firefox can provide a more anonymized gate to these providers and guarantee that prompts are not used for training, this would be a net win for people who want to use AI but doesn't know better, i.e. the "normal" users.

Re: Firefox will have an option to disable all AI features

#125

Have it as a stand alone plugin. I should have to manually install this AI stuff.

You're not a normal user of Firefox then.

Normal users will be fine if they will see two big squares side by side as an installation step: „with AI“ and „without AI“, where the former will just install and enable the plugin. Explicit choice is better than opt-out, and it’s not going to be something people frequently change their mind about, so another switch can be buried in settings.

Re: Firefox will have an option to disable all AI features

#126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the responses are sponsored, it seems the value drops dramatically. I want the AI agent to act more like a fiduciary, an independent 3rd party acting in my best interest. I don't need an AI salesman interjecting itself into my life with compromised incentives.

Is there a reason such a thing couldn't present a bunch of neutral options, but with affiliate links that provide revenue back to Mozilla? (I mean, that could still steer it toward places that have affiliate programs, but if you're running a local AI tool to help you search for these things that seems like something you should reasonably be able to toggle on and off/configure in a system prompt/something.)

What we’ve seen from other companies is exactly what you mention. Unfair ranking and promotion of items with affiliate links or the highest payouts for them. Changing incentives compromise the integrity of the results.

Re: Firefox will have an option to disable all AI features

#127

Have it as a stand alone plugin. I should have to manually install this AI stuff.

The team (AND Marketing) should focus on saying it's a fast core browser with the extensions you want to make it yours.

Have recommended extension sets ([uBlock, Sponsorblock], [Containerise, Sideberry, Decentraleyes], [AI translation + Dictionary/Thesaurus]).

Make me want to use your AI features, don't just slap them on my face wishing I'll do more than get mad and try to get rid of them.

Re: Firefox will have an option to disable all AI features

#128

Have it as a stand alone plugin. I should have to manually install this AI stuff.

Forcing everything into a plug-in is architecturally more complex, and less performant... I'm imagining proxying from native code through JavaScript APIs, then back to native code for LLM operations and context storage. But might lead to creation of some new AI extension APIs.

Re: Firefox will have an option to disable all AI features

#129
post #9

Of all the AI features added recently, local translations is one that I would be OK with being enabled by default. It's useful, and its value proposition is much less dubious.

What are all the recent AI features? Because I ever only noticed the local translation, and can't find anything else by looking at the menu.

EDIT: Oh, I've found a context menu item-list.

Re: Firefox will have an option to disable all AI features

#130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who is a "normal" user. Normal users install Chrome.

We want "normal" users to use Firefox, not to push it to a smaller niche with more force. Even though I don't like or use this "AI thingy", it should be equally easy to use and equally easy to disable. If Firefox can provide a more anonymized gate to these providers and guarantee that prompts are not used for training, this would be a net win for people who want to use AI but doesn't know better, i.e. the "normal" us…

That's how normal users stay on chrome while your users leave firefox. That's how you get no users at all.
Post reply on HN