"Several weeks ago, Mozilla Firefox dodged a bullet aimed at its business model - a potential court-ordered cutoff of the Google search-default payments that constitute its primary course of income. But that escape from one feared outcome of the U.S. search-antitrust case against the web giant doesn't change two other things: Firefox remains in an embattled position. That's bad news for users."
"A conversation with Mozilla CEO Laura Chambers at Web Summit in Lisbon in November featured many such "things-could-be-worse" moments, starting with my question about the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia handing down a ruling in the antitrust case that allowed Google to keep paying browser developers to make its search engine their default. "We spent a lot of time working on the case, and we wrote amicus briefs and worked with the judge," Chambers said."
"Its upcoming AI Window, revealed the day I spoke to Chambers, doesn't have a preset default either, although Mozilla has not announced which AI services will be available through this waitlist-required option. "I think there's about 12% of the general population in the U.S., France, and Germany that don't want to use AI," she said. "My guess is it's probably a little higher of Firefox users.""
Mozilla Firefox avoided a court-ordered cutoff of Google search-default payments that form its primary revenue stream, but the browser remains in an embattled position. The loss of Firefox would worsen web competition and harm users. Mozilla responded to antitrust proceedings by filing amicus briefs and engaging with the court to protect browser competition. Mozilla is developing an AI Window without a preset default and with a waitlist, signaling cautious integration of AI. Surveys suggest a minority refuse AI, and Firefox users may be more skeptical. Mozilla emphasizes preserving discoverability, verification, and exploration on the open web.
Read at Fast Company
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