I’m not so sure about that. FOSS is unlikely to gain a direct profit motive, and if it does, there will necessarily be versions with those features removed. How can you stop me from turning off ads or updates when I control the entire operating system? That’s kind of the whole point of free and open source software—the user is in control. Myself or someone with the appropriate skills can modify the code not to do those things. If that results in a better product, everyone will switch to it, killing those features permanently.
I have no problem with an open source AI if it proves useful, but it will be running on my machine under my terms. In fact, I already have an LLM running entirely locally.
It’s hard to enshittify FOSS as long as good enough people willing to contribute to de-shittify stuff exist, but that is not the main thing that “defines” any trend.
The layman that tends to use stuff that is marketed (which is unfortunately enough of the people) will be affected by for-profit orgs trying to set trends in their favour. That is what will turn out to “define” the terms.
Consider how Apple managed to keep their cult following for so long and how there are still enough people who consider “Windows” as the common name for Operating System. Even though the more technically minded people understand the differences, it doesn’t change the fact that people’s perception will be defined by what’s more in front of them, until they individually realise their ignorance and decide to investigate.
Wait until AI, Ads and Forced Upgrades becomes the definition of “computer stuff”.
I’m not so sure about that. FOSS is unlikely to gain a direct profit motive, and if it does, there will necessarily be versions with those features removed. How can you stop me from turning off ads or updates when I control the entire operating system? That’s kind of the whole point of free and open source software—the user is in control. Myself or someone with the appropriate skills can modify the code not to do those things. If that results in a better product, everyone will switch to it, killing those features permanently.
I have no problem with an open source AI if it proves useful, but it will be running on my machine under my terms. In fact, I already have an LLM running entirely locally.
It’s hard to enshittify FOSS as long as good enough people willing to contribute to de-shittify stuff exist, but that is not the main thing that “defines” any trend.
The layman that tends to use stuff that is marketed (which is unfortunately enough of the people) will be affected by for-profit orgs trying to set trends in their favour. That is what will turn out to “define” the terms. Consider how Apple managed to keep their cult following for so long and how there are still enough people who consider “Windows” as the common name for Operating System. Even though the more technically minded people understand the differences, it doesn’t change the fact that people’s perception will be defined by what’s more in front of them, until they individually realise their ignorance and decide to investigate.