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Firefox Getting New Controls to Turn Off AI Features

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Re: Firefox Getting New Controls to Turn Off AI Features

#81

Post by estimator7292 »

bxparks wrote: post #52
rc_kas wrote: post #37

I keep meaning to make a guide "how to make firefox not suck" but I never get around to it. It's a great browser, but I always forget the default settings are super stupid. Myself and power users all have it customized to the hilt. It takes some serious work to get a new new FireFox install working nicely.

No kidding. I had to create a Google Doc document to remember all the little things that I have to clobber in Firefox to make it behave reasonably. Here is an excerpt of how I clobber the defaults: - Enable pixel-perfect smooth scrolling (Linux): MOZ_USE_XINPUT2=1 (why do we still have to do this??) - Enable: Ctrl-Tab cycles through recent used order - Disable: "Show an image preview when you hover on a tab" - Disabl…

At this level you'll probably find more utility in starting your own fork of firefox

Re: Firefox Getting New Controls to Turn Off AI Features

#82

Post by estimator7292 »

hn92726819 wrote: post #45
crabmusket wrote: post #10

Why are there controls to turn off AI features, but no controls to turn on AI features?

In the parallel universe where Firefox defaults to ai features being off, there's a snarky comment like yours about why it isn't on by default. It is really tiring to hear this stuff. People (rightfully) complained there was no switch. One was added. In Chrome, you can't turn off Google's ai unless you install a third party extension that hasn't yet been blocked by Google. Not a lot of companies allow disabling their…

You ever walk into the bathroom at work and find someone else's shit fully clogging the toilet that you now have to fix?

That's why.

It's perfectly within your capability to plunge someone else's shit down the toilet. It's not even difficult.

Why can't you be happy with this solution? They gave you a plunger, it's not like you're clearing the toilet with your bare hands!

Re: Firefox Getting New Controls to Turn Off AI Features

#84

Post by hn92726819 »

estimator7292 wrote: post #82
hn92726819 wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the parallel universe where Firefox defaults to ai features being off, there's a snarky comment like yours about why it isn't on by default. It is really tiring to hear this stuff. People (rightfully) complained there was no switch. One was added. In Chrome, you can't turn off Google's ai unless you install a third party extension that hasn't yet been blocked by Google. Not a lot of companies allow disabling their…

You ever walk into the bathroom at work and find someone else's shit fully clogging the toilet that you now have to fix? That's why. It's perfectly within your capability to plunge someone else's shit down the toilet. It's not even difficult. Why can't you be happy with this solution? They gave you a plunger, it's not like you're clearing the toilet with your bare hands!

In this example, nearly every other company in existence gives their employees nothing and asks them to use their hands (forcing AI with no option).

It's hard for me to look at Google, Win11, M$ office, and then complain about Firefox.

Re: Firefox Getting New Controls to Turn Off AI Features

#85

Post by hn92726819 »

beautron wrote: post #57
hn92726819 wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the parallel universe where Firefox defaults to ai features being off, there's a snarky comment like yours about why it isn't on by default. It is really tiring to hear this stuff. People (rightfully) complained there was no switch. One was added. In Chrome, you can't turn off Google's ai unless you install a third party extension that hasn't yet been blocked by Google. Not a lot of companies allow disabling their…

> Not a lot of companies allow disabling their garbage, but FF does. > > Can't we be happy with this nice switch? I want my tools to keep working the way they have been working. I don't want to be paranoid that "garbage" (as you put it), or any other controversial changes, are going to be slipped into my tools while I'm not looking.

There is something to be said about that. Firefox does keep inserting it's 'helpful features' like Pocket on users, which is very annoying.

My point is just that everyone is so critical of Firefox, when the alternative is disproportionately, orders of magnitude worse for the user.

I'd rather bash on minor Firefox grievances when it's the #1 browser, not when it's losing/lost the browser war and it's our last chance at browser engine diversity.

Re: Firefox Getting New Controls to Turn Off AI Features

#86

Post by guimi »

shawn_w wrote: post #49
rc_kas wrote: post #37

I keep meaning to make a guide "how to make firefox not suck" but I never get around to it. It's a great browser, but I always forget the default settings are super stupid. Myself and power users all have it customized to the hilt. It takes some serious work to get a new new FireFox install working nicely.

The only things I do with a new copy of Firefox is install uBlock Origin and Privacy Badger and it works quite nicely. (Oh, and an extension that redirects reddit links to old reddit, and RES)

If I'm not mistaken, no need to use Privacy Badger if you're already using uBlock Origin and Firefox Total Cookie Protection. https://old.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/1d3so6g/should_i_u...

Re: Firefox Getting New Controls to Turn Off AI Features

#87

Post by ghostwords »

guimi wrote: post #86
shawn_w wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only things I do with a new copy of Firefox is install uBlock Origin and Privacy Badger and it works quite nicely. (Oh, and an extension that redirects reddit links to old reddit, and RES)

If I'm not mistaken, no need to use Privacy Badger if you're already using uBlock Origin and Firefox Total Cookie Protection. https://old.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/1d3so6g/should_i_u...

Nah, Privacy Badger is different. PB doesn't use ad blocker lists and comes with its own special features like replacing tweets with click-to-activate placeholders. And if you want to block all ads, PB works well in combination with ad blockers.

As for Firefox’s Total Cookie Protection, cookies are not the only tracking vector: https://privacybadger.org/#Is-Privacy-Badger-compatible-with...

Re: Firefox Getting New Controls to Turn Off AI Features

#88

Post by blks »

gaigalas wrote: post #32

I'd say browsers are a pretty good way of delivering models that run locally. Currently, this tech is a sleeper because consumer hardware is not there yet. Extensions, even websites, could benefit a lot from offering small models on demand and powering client-side features with them. That is very different from a browser that embeds AI access through an API, and totally acceptable.

To be used for what? Summarising web pages?

Re: Firefox Getting New Controls to Turn Off AI Features

#89

Post by HWR_14 »

kgwxd wrote: post #76
mathnode wrote: post #4

Of all the unnecessary AI integrations; firefox is the one I am least concerned or annoyed about. I will however be disabling anything AI related they introduce.

The presence of the code itself is a threat. There's no good reason it shouldn't be an extension, beholden to all the same "security" restrictions other extensions are.

Yes, a web browser should prioritize security and simplicity, and put optional features in a sandbox.

Re: Firefox Getting New Controls to Turn Off AI Features

#90

Post by boredpudding »

addandsubtract wrote: post #72
bxparks wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No kidding. I had to create a Google Doc document to remember all the little things that I have to clobber in Firefox to make it behave reasonably. Here is an excerpt of how I clobber the defaults: - Enable pixel-perfect smooth scrolling (Linux): MOZ_USE_XINPUT2=1 (why do we still have to do this??) - Enable: Ctrl-Tab cycles through recent used order - Disable: "Show an image preview when you hover on a tab" - Disabl…

What does the Facebook container do that can't be done by the Multi-Account Container? I just have a Facebook/Google/AWS/etc. container set up there.

It's automatic. So if you open Facebook, or any Meta site, it automatically puts it in it's own container.

Together with Privacy Badger, Meta has no clue what you're doing on the rest of the web.

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