You can also manually add or remove search engines (at least in current Mozilla releases)

It's not a search engine, it's a random text generator disguised as an engine. It's worse than Google, if you can believe it. We don't need more shit that is worse than Google

Has anyone figured out how to automate updates on macOS (ew I know, but it's my wife's computer)?

Oh that's a fork that's explicitly about having less options for the user then?

How do I prevent new antifeatures from being added? How do I even know about the new antifeatures as they are added? Does Mozilla publish an RSS feed of each antifeature like this that they add, that gives a quick explanation of how to undo it?

Thankfully it's easy to remove yet. But this sneaky automatic addition is still annoying.

I prefer waterfox but i normally use them booth as they are awesome (one just with the basic addons and the other with all the addons i want but they could break websites)

Whereas I'm upvoting because I support adding options. If you don't like it, don't use it.

I mean, if this helps fund Firefox and is not too intrusive then I am fine with it.

It's totally "shoved" when it's just an additional option in the search engine sélection...

AI has money and Mozilla needs it. Are you going to pay for Firefox development?

"Nobody wants" is false.

The issue is them adding it to your list without user's input or even notification. This is unpleasant behaviour that shouldn't be normal, even if this time there is no damage.

It's just a search engine choice.

I agree with the sentiment, but this is quite possibly the least offensive idea Mozilla has had in a while.

I set up floccus but haven’t dove completely into it. So far it’s neat though.

I find that chatgpt and claude try to give you one answer and sounds mildly to very certain about themselves without giving references.

Perplexity actually gives reference links for each claim it makes, which I find better because I can check it's work and fork off and explore further myself at any point along it's reasoning.

As a definite AI Hater, I find it to be a good middle ground LLM / search engine

It's a search option, probably like how different search engines are present.

People don't use Firefox because it doesn't have a global tech company shoving it onto people

I mean honeslty why use base firefox when there are much better forks of firefox. Floorp for example which I like.

If I want straight up firefox without the AI stuff then I'll just go use Librewolf.