TL;DR: Mozilla’s translation bot on Support Mozilla (that is currently overwriting user contributions is based on the closed source, copyright infringing LLM, Google Gemini. This is in spite of Mozilla claiming that they are at the forefront of open source AI, and belies their exhortations to choose to build open source AI and data sets. Although Mozilla has experience in attracting open contributions for data sets in projects like Common Voice, Mozilla is using a closed data set to overwrite open contributions. Since (paid) Gemini queries do not train the model, Mozillians can expect to correct errors every time the bot automatically updates an article.
I understand your sentiment, but I disagree with it. It’s not a very good or practical standard for most of us to boycott software based on the developer’s opinions. Why? Because if you started filtering all software, movies, music, games, books, and technology by the personal beliefs of the creators… You’d never be able to use anything.
Everyone has opinions, some you’d agree with, some you wouldn’t, and many creators have said or done things people don’t like. If you only used products made by people you 100% agree with, you’d isolate yourself and cut yourself off from an entire ecosystem of tools and ideas.
I wholeheartedly disagree with the developer’s opinions on transgenders, but I still want the project to succeed, and I’ll use it. Maybe I’m crazy, but I feel like that that’s the right way to approach it.
Edit: I’d like to add some more to this.
What matters more is, does the software work? Is it safe? Is it ethical in how it’s built and licensed? Does the project itself harm anyone?
If the answer to these is yes, then the developer’s personal politics aren’t relevant.
Agreed, you should be allowed to have your opinion on all things! I think the important thing is whether or not the person actively tries to turn/force others to its own beliefs. If they do, they should be boycotted - like Elon, who actively tries to force his nazi and corp views on others, therefore I don’t buy Tesla or use X.
That’s a great point. That falls under “does the project harm anyone?”. I agree with you. I, too, won’t buy a Tesla.
As a member of the transgender community I do filter the products in my life to the extent I can (no ethical consumption and all that). But for something so minor as to use gender neutral language into an open source project meant for everyone I feel as though they brought this into ladybird when it could have been left alone. If someone’s opinion is that my community doesn’t or shouldn’t exist then they can kick rocks honestly. I think this case is easier as well because the servo project is right there with it and stands as something completely untouched by this sort of drama.
I understand, and support your opinion.