20251223 - Firefox browser falls to AI. What do we do now?

Update: 2025-12-23

Description

where 'absolutely not' means 'maybe later'

https://pivot-to-ai.com/2025/12/23/firefox-browser-falls-to-ai-what-do-we-do-now/ - blog post

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Sources:

uBlock Origin by Raymond Hill https://addons.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/addon/ublock-origin/
AI Chatbot, at your service https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/ai-chatbot-at-your-service/td-p/84919
Mozilla's next chapter: Building the world's most trusted software company https://blog.mozilla.org/en/mozilla/leadership/mozillas-next-chapter-anthony-enzor-demeo-new-ceo/
Mozilla's new CEO is doubling down on an AI future for Firefox https://www.theverge.com/tech/845216/mozilla-ceo-anthony-enzor-demeo
Something that hasn't been made clear: Firefox will have an option to completely disable all AI features https://bsky.app/profile/webdevs.firefox.com/post/3mab5kub3gs2b
I've spoken to a lot of folks about what counts as opt-in https://bsky.app/profile/webdevs.firefox.com/post/3madx5u5km227
When did I opt in to this? https://bsky.app/profile/arborelia.net/post/3mae7sqerp22c
Manifest V3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Chrome#Manifest_V3_2
Mozilla boss Brendan Eich resigns after gay marriage storm https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-26868536
Brave: Easy, private AI https://brave.com/ai/
One of the last meetings I attended before leaving Apple (in 2017) https://x.com/awesomekling/status/1874518295350837401
Let's prototype a JavaScript JIT compiler! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mxubNQC5O8&list=UU9rJrMVgcXTfa8xuMnbhAEA

Alternate browsers:

Vivaldi: https://vivaldi.com
LibreWolf: https://librewolf.net/
WaterFox: https://www.waterfox.com/
IronFox: https://gitlab.com/ironfox-oss/IronFox/-/tree/main?ref_type=heads#app-installation

Previously on Attack of the 50 Foot Blockchain:

Brave web browser no longer claims to fundraise on behalf of others — so that's nice https://davidgerard.co.uk/blockchain/2019/01/13/brave-web-browser-no-longer-claims-to-fundraise-on-behalf-of-others-so-thats-nice/
The Brave web browser is hijacking links, and inserting affiliate codes https://davidgerard.co.uk/blockchain/2020/06/06/the-brave-web-browser-is-hijacking-links-and-inserting-affiliate-codes/

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