**If Users Notice Your Software, You're Already a Loser – Pivot to AI**

The software industry is plagued by a fundamental flaw: developers who can't resist making their creations stand out. They want you to notice them, to acknowledge their brilliance and appreciate the bells and whistles they've added. But the truth is, nobody wants a computer; we just want what it does.

I recently purchased a new phone, the Fairphone 5, with e/OS – an Android fork that eschews Google's influence. However, I chose to install stock Android 15 instead, as I need specific commercial apps from the Google Play store for my work. This decision is not about being obstinate or nostalgic; it's about getting the job done without distractions.

As someone who's been using Linux since 2005 and FreeBSD before that, I've learned to appreciate a clean, unobtrusive interface. My goal is not to geek out over my phone's operating system but to use it as a tool for my tasks. And if you're like me – just trying to get work done – then you'll understand why NOTICE ME software is a hindrance, not a help.

Platforms must be transparent and intuitive; they shouldn't demand attention or try to be the center of focus. Windows 11's attempts to be your friend are a perfect example of this: it wants to tell you about its new features and ask for feedback – all while trying to do its job, which is to run thirty years' worth of old software.

Linux has traditionally struggled with this concept, as Linux evangelists often forget that people don't want to notice their operating system. They just want it to work. Windows and Macintosh have made significant strides in recent years, but even they've succumbed to NOTICE ME decay with features like Liquid Glass.

Meanwhile, new users are discovering Linux because it's less annoying than its competitors – particularly Windows 11. And when they do notice the operating system, it's not to admire its sleek interface or innovative features; it's because it basically works now, without trying to be their friend or sell them AI.

AI, in particular, is a culprit of NOTICE ME decay. It's added as a gimmick, with little consideration for how it will affect the user experience. And when it crashes the system or demands attention – as Microsoft's Copilot AI platform does – that's when users crash to a halt.

Firefox's decision to add AI is a classic example of this loser strategy. It started as a blank slate browser, but over time, it decayed into NOTICE ME mode with features like its now-defunct AI-powered tab suggestions.

The Firefox developers seem oblivious to the fact that users want a web browser that just works – not one that demands their attention or tries to find a use case for generative AI. Microsoft's Copilot AI platform, too, has been met with disdain from users who simply want it to fix its bugs and leave them alone.

If you're adding sparkly icon "now with AI!" features to your software, you're in quarterly driven failure mode – begging a competitor to do the stripped-down version. And if you're open source, you've got no excuse for this sort of behavior; get some help and stop it.

As a professional who's worked with computers for years, I can attest that they suck and are terrible. If I notice the computer, it's already failed me. Companies and projects that go into NOTICE ME decay will never recover. The only way to succeed is to start with a blank slate drop-in replacement – one that just works without demanding attention.

So, let's send money to the Servo browser project instead of investing in AI-powered nonsense. It's time for developers to focus on creating software that doesn't crash to a halt and leave us alone.