Mozilla adds CoPilot chatbot to Firefox in the latest nightly builds, plus previews new Task and Timer widgets for the New Tab page.
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/09/firefox-adding-copilot-chatbot-features?v2
Edited 68d ago
copilot
Trying to move away from the #Microsoft suite (#Word, #Powerpoint, #Excel), mostly because of their forcing of #Copilot on users.
It seems that the choice is between #LibreOffice or #OpenOffice - which one would you recommend that is most compatible with MS formats, has similar functionalities (but with #NoAI ) and is good for collaboration (e.g. can do tracked changes)?
(Best if it works with #Zotero)
Options:
#Microsoft is clearly becoming desperate due to low adoption rates of #Copilot.
Apparently, Microsoft is now pushing Copilot to all #Microsoft365 personal subscribers and calling it a "subscription price increase". Only when you decide to cancel your subscription are you presented with the option to switch to "Microsoft 365 Personal Classic" without Copilot (and nearly the old price). The classic plan is not presented as an option unless you try to cancel your subscription.
This is a classic scammy trick: Modify the existing plan and add the feature no one wants and hide the old plan from view. Presto, now you have an insane adoption rate you can present to investors as a great success.
I personally don't use Microsoft subscription services, so I don't know if they tried this bullshit in the EU, but if they did, they're asking for trouble. They got sued in Australia over this already: https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/microsoft-in-court-for-allegedly-misleading-millions-of-australians-over-microsoft-365-subscriptions "Microsoft in court for allegedly misleading millions of Australians over Microsoft 365 subscriptions"
EDIT: It seems that at least in some areas/situations the "classic" non-AI version is actually even more expensive. This isn't exactly making the situation any better of course.
Edited 11d ago
Disabling #Windows #AI features organization-wide using #GroupPolicy.
This will turn off #Recall (the periodic screenshot service) and #Copilot (the AI assistant service). You can do this pre-emptively even before any machines on your domain are running Windows 11 24H2.
1. Download and install the Windows 11 24H2 administrative template files: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=106254
2. Add the files from C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Group Policy\Windows 11 Sep 2024 Update (24H2)\PolicyDefinitions to C:\Windows\SYSVOL\domain\Policies\PolicyDefinitions on the domain controller.
3. Start Group Policy Management on the domain controller.
4. Create a group policy object with these values:
User Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows AI > Turn off Saving Snapshots for Windows = enabled
User Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Copilot > Turn off Windows Copilot = enabled
5. Link the group policy object in at an appropriate level in your domain.
Edited 1y ago
For the longest time I used LibreOffice on Linux and Microsoft Office on Windows, but now I have dumped Microsoft Office for LibreOffice on Windows too.
My blog post explains why, but basically: fuck Microsoft and their shoving of Copilot down our throats. (I also rant about the current AI hype cycle, in case you're interested.)
https://www.insanityworks.org/randomtangent/2025/6/8/switching-mostly-to-libreoffice
⚠️ AI does not belong in your mailbox. ⚠️
Here's why 👉 https://tuta.com/blog/ai-email-writers-review
