Memo details layoffs, "strategic corrections," and a desire for "trustworthy" AI.

Mozilla lays off 60 people, wants to build AI into Firefox::Memo details layoffs, “strategic corrections,” and a desire for “trustworthy” AI.

  • TheGrandNagus@lemmy.worldEnglish
    76·
    9 months ago

    It should be noted that this isn’t quite the same AI integration that the likes of Google/Microsoft are working on.

    It’s trained using the data you authorise it to have, is run entirely locally when your browser is otherwise doing nothing, and doesn’t send information back to Mozilla.

    Personally my main gripes with AI are unethical sourcing of training data, and data collection. It seems like these won’t be problematic in this case.

    If AI integration is to happen (and we need to wait and see what the wider market outside of the Lemmy bubble wants), then this to me seems to be the best way to do it.

    Right now they’re using ‘AI’ for detecting fake reviews on sites, and to help power their offline translation.

    As for the 60 layoffs, that’s a shame and I hope these people find swift employment. They don’t appear to be people working on Firefox, though.

    • RonSijm@programming.devEnglish
      171·
      9 months ago

      If AI integration is to happen […], then this to me seems to be the best way to do it.

      Well, to me the best way to do it would be for Mozilla to focus on being the best bare-bone, extendable browser.

      Then - if people want an AI in their browser - people should be able to install an AI extension that does these things. It’s a bit annoying they’re putting random stuff like Pocket, and now an AI in the core of the browser, instead of just making it an option to install extendable

      • SSUPII@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        61·
        9 months ago

        You forget people DON’T want to personalize, and most Firefox users aren’t power ones. If a browser has a feature, they want it bundled.

      • TheGrandNagus@lemmy.worldEnglish
        21·
        9 months ago

        That sounds great for a power user that loves to research what extensions and such to have in their browser, and likes to customise their system to be just how they like it, but it doesn’t sound like something with the wide-market appeal that Mozilla needs if they’re to become a mainstream name again.

        Those people will just wonder why FF is missing basic functionality, then switch back to Chrome.

        • RonSijm@programming.devEnglish
          1·
          9 months ago

          Well @ @TheGrandNagus and @SSUPII - I think a lot of Firefox users are power users. And a lot of the non-power Firefox users, like my friends and family, they’re only using Firefox because I recommended them to use it, and I installed all the appropriate extensions to optimize their browser experience.

          So if Firefox alienates the power users - who are left? I’m gonna move on to Waterfox or Librewolf, but they are even more next-level obscure browsers. My non-tech friends know about Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, so I can convince them to use one of those… But I kinda doubt I can get them to use Librewolf. If I tell them Firefox sucks now too, they’ll probably default to chrome

          • TheGrandNagus@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1·
            9 months ago

            That’s not what I said at all. I said Firefox needs to have broad appeal and right now it doesn’t.

            That was very very clear from my comment.

            There’s no point in doubling down on only appealing to the tiny amount of people that by and large already use Firefox or a derivative.