this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2026
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[–] IntrovertTurtle@lemmy.zip 48 points 2 days ago (2 children)

It should be opt-in, not opt-out.

[–] Gorluk@piefed.zip 20 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Ideally, but it's a step in the right direction

Overall, it would be cool if it asked that on first launch.

[–] CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I'm okay with Opt-Out so long as it's clearly marked.

I shouldn't have to go into the config or click through 7 layers of UI just to opt out.

That said, this is a reminder that Firefox is no longer open source. It's source available and you should use Waterfox or LibreWolf if you want a browser based on Firefox but without AI out of the box.

[–] Blisterexe@lemmy.zip 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

That said, this is a reminder that Firefox is no longer open source. It's source available

How so? It's still licensed under the MPL, an open source license.

Mozilla are using a similar model to Microsoft and open sourcing Firefox code under the MPL while distributing the executable under a new Terms of Service.

Firefox (the executable) is no longer considered FOSS since they can revoke your license at anytime. I posted a comment that details my personal view of this change.

TL;DR: they would have only done this if they planned on farming user data. And last month announced that they intend to do just that.

[–] thorhop@sopuli.xyz 14 points 1 day ago

"Would you like an opt-out in these trying times?"

It's because of opt-out that these are trying times, you sonofabitch.

[–] Kirk@startrek.website 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

What exactly are the AI features everyone is talking about? The only one I've encountered is the "long click to preview link" and it's... not super useful but far from annoying like Copilot.

[–] locuester@lemmy.zip 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Yeah all I have is a useless summarize button that I just don’t click. If I needed it I would, seems useful. But I don’t really need it for anything. I like to read.

[–] Kirk@startrek.website 3 points 2 days ago

Right, exactly. It also takes 3-4 seconds to load in which time I could have just middle clicked and loaded it in the background. Maybe on mobile I'd use it but only in rare circumstances.

[–] its_me_xiphos@beehaw.org 4 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Is there an alternative at this point? I tried Brave on a recommendation and its got AI integrated from default with opt out required.

LibreWolf and IronFox are forks that completely remove the AI stuff (among other privacy tweaks) as far as I'm aware.

People have also been recimmending Waterfox quite often recently.

[–] claudinec@beehaw.org 4 points 2 days ago

There's Vivaldi which is Chromium and not open source, but AFAIK is currently the only big browser that is explicitly not going to include AI features.

[–] leriotdelac@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 day ago

And also Zen browser, also Firefox fork. Quite a few options exist.