Mozilla is Building an AI 'Rebel Alliance' To Take on Industry Heavweights OpenAI, Anthropic (cnbc.com)
- Reference: 0180666128
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/01/27/1818232/mozilla-is-building-an-ai-rebel-alliance-to-take-on-industry-heavweights-openai-anthropic
- Source link: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/27/mozilla-building-an-ai-rebel-alliance-to-take-on-openai-anthropic-.html
The organization released a report Tuesday outlining its strategy to counter the growing dominance of OpenAI and Anthropic, which have raised more than $60 billion and $30 billion respectively from investors and now command valuations of $500 billion and $350 billion. Mozilla Ventures, a fund launched in 2022 with an initial $35 million commitment, has invested in more than 55 companies to date and is exploring raising additional capital.
Surman, who runs the organization from a farm outside Toronto, acknowledged the financial mismatch but said Mozilla is playing the long game. By 2028, he wants Mozilla to be funding a "mainstream" open-source AI ecosystem for developers. The effort faces headwinds from the Trump administration, which has criticized AI safety efforts as "woke AI" and signed an executive order establishing a task force to challenge state AI regulations.
[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/27/mozilla-building-an-ai-rebel-alliance-to-take-on-openai-anthropic-.html
When you've eliminated all projects no one wants (Score:2)
"Mozilla, the nonprofit organization behind the Firefox browser..."
I'd say they're WAY behind at this point. And, with this style of project planning--a fifty-fifty cross between a magpie and a goldfish--they're apparently getting behinder every minute.
Rebel Alliance (Score:4, Funny)
Expect incoming lawsuit from Disney/LucasFilm in 3,2,1
Re: (Score:2)
> I'd question the Rebel Aliiance analogy anyway: Surman's goal is to achieve the same outcomes as Big AI, not for a democratic republic to wrest political control back from an authoritarian trickster.
Yeah, but his Big Ai will have a cooler name than the other guys Big AI. It'll lean up against its car and smoke cigarettes and maybe, if it's feeling edgy, squeal its tires when it peels out of the parking lot.
These god damned idiots thinking throwing around billions of dollars at the most popular smoke and mirrors of the moment will make them appear rebellious is one of the funniest things I've heard so far this year. And while the year is young, it's gonna be tough to beat this one.
Why? (Score:3)
Real question: why? I mean, you're fucking neglecting the browser that the whole organization is supposed to be about but here you are dumping money into shitty AI. So tell me, WHY?!
Re:Why? (Score:4, Insightful)
Because the Mozilla Foundation understands the real problem with the Rebels was that they didn't have enough Sith Lords.
Re: (Score:2)
I wish I had mod points. Bravo, good sir. Bravo.
Re: (Score:2)
To hurry up and grab some of that bubble money.
Re: Why? (Score:2)
CEO who should not even exist (in multiple senses arguably, but I mean Mozilla shouldn't have one here) justifying his multi million dollar salary in the usual way - with bullshit.
You are part of the rebel alliance and a traitor.. (Score:2)
Take them away!
The real question is! (Score:2)
How much google cash did the c-suite pocket?
Summary seems very deceptive (Score:5, Insightful)
They have not committed to spending $1.4 billion on an AI initiative.
Rather, the new CEO stated it's a priority, and that they want to do it by investing in themselves and others. And then the article notes that they have about $1.4 billion in reserves that could go towards investments like that.
They are moving on AI in a way that is a priority, and is a concern for a lot of people that think they should still be mostly focused on the web. But I don't think they've said anything that makes them as all in as this implies.
The actual article even says directly:
"While its biggest priority remains growing and investing in Firefox, investing in the rebel alliance is “at the heart of who Mozilla is today,” according to the report on Tuesday. Supporting startups is central to that strategy."
But the summary, and to some extent the headline and intro to the article, imply they've made some all in commitment about AI. But nothing actually says that.
Re: Summary seems very deceptive (Score:1)
1.4 billion in reserves? Maybe they could fix thunderbird QR codes
Re: (Score:2)
> 1.4 billion in reserves? Maybe they could fix thunderbird QR codes
Or put the option back in place which stops the harassing message you don't have the latest and greatest version installed.
Open source and "safe"? (Score:2, Insightful)
We all know that "safe" in this context means silencing content that you, personally, disapprove of. How is that compatible with open source, where anyone can fork an "unsafe" version?
This will go well (Score:3)
You know that phrase, know your market? Someone needs to tell Mozilla.
Bust out (Score:2)
So that's how Mozilla folds - bleeding off the reserves as part of the AI scam.
Wonder who will end up with the domain name.
Re: Bust out (Score:1)
I think it's more the fact that they earn most of their money from Google search revenue, and Google needs to keep them on life support because it's cheaper than having antitrust issues. So Mozilla needs to look like they're competing without actually competing to keep the cash flowing.
It's a trap! (Score:1)
That is all.
Unfortunately... (Score:2)
Mozilla is more Episodes 7,8,9 than Episodes 4,5,6 and this won't go well.
Big gamble (Score:4, Insightful)
This could the end of Mozilla. Sounds like a make or break type investment for a non-profit.
Re: Big gamble (Score:2)
Yup, Rebel Alliance sounds like a blackhole money pit that money goes to disappear, only a secretive insider abscondes with it