user: How does Free and Open Source Software differ from Closed Source software? Please explain to me why (or if) it is important for society.

assistant: Free and Open Source (FOSS) software is released under the premise that it is truly free, in the sense that it is both free-of-charge to use and that the source code is freely available to view, modify, and compile. This means that the likelihood of any hidden malicious or unwanted behaviour is drastically reduced, since it is trivially easy to detect and remove such unwanted behaviour. Open-source projects are often maintained by groups of volunteers in their spare time, which means that the project is unlikely to be discontinued, as long as there is interest in it. On top of this, open-source software is often "forked", or cloned into other software, which allows for improvements to be made separately or for the software to be used as a template for other software. For example, a lot of popular web browsers, such as Opera, Vivaldi, Microsoft Edge, and Google Chrome are forks of the Chromium web browser, which is open-source. Firefox also has several clones, such as Kiwi Browser and LibreWolf. 

Unlike open-source software, the source code of proprietary software is not available to the user. This means that hidden functionality such as telemetry and malware could be hidden inside the program. However, this allows for the developers to sell the software. (Although, there is some open-source software that is not free-of-charge).

The difference between open-source and proprietary software is an important distinction to make, since the two philosophies are fundamentally different and seek to achieve different goals. However, the most popular software in the world is still proprietary software, although some open-source projects dominate specific niche use-cases, such as Linux in servers.

user: How significant is open-source to our society?

assistant: Open-source software plays a significant role in our society, impacting various aspects of technology, economy, education, and more. Here are some ways in which open-source is important to our society:

1. Innovation: Open-source software fosters innovation by allowing developers to build on the work of others, adapt existing code, and create new solutions without needing to start from scratch. This accelerates the development process and leads to faster technological advancements.

2. Collaboration: Open-source projects bring together developers from around the world, promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing. This global exchange of ideas helps drive continuous improvement and ensures that software evolves to meet users' needs.

3. Cost-effectiveness: Open-source software is generally free to use, modify, and distribute, which reduces costs for individuals, businesses, and public institutions. This can lead to cost savings and increased access to technology for a wider range of people.

4. Security and reliability: Open-source projects tend to have more eyes on their code, making it easier to identify and fix security vulnerabilities and bugs. This can lead to increased security and reliability in comparison to some closed-source alternatives.

5. Education: Open-source software provides valuable learning opportunities for students and professionals alike. By examining and working with open-source code, individuals can develop their programming skills, better understand software design principles, and learn from real-world examples.

6. Digital sovereignty: By using open-source software, governments and organizations can avoid vendor lock-in and maintain control over their digital infrastructure. This ensures that they can make independent decisions about their technology stack and avoid dependence on proprietary solutions.

7. Transparency: Open-source software promotes transparency, allowing users to examine the code that powers their applications and devices. This can foster trust and provide assurance that the software respects users' privacy and security.

In summary, open-source software has a significant impact on our society by promoting innovation, collaboration, cost-effectiveness, security, education, digital sovereignty, and transparency. It has become an essential component of the global technology ecosystem and plays a crucial role in shaping our digital future.