As with all things like this, the real question is does this donation give leverage from a competing agenda or not. Seems like it isn’t supposed to, but is that trustworthy?
People are righteously wary of this given how Google funding of Mozilla went over time. I don’t expect sudden pivot, but gradual shift to push AI features in 5, 10 years is entirely possible so I’ll just keep my watch. Like it or not, 3D GenAI user’s also exists (not sure how big are they or growing) and their primary tool is Blender so BF may see them part of the “diverse userbase” too.
Users: corpos should fund open source* with no strings attached!
Also users: I CANT BELIEVE AN OPEN SOURCE PROJECT WOULD ACCEPT MONEY FROM A CORPO 😡
The fearmongering is tiring
*with no strings attached.
You forgot that bit.
Edited, that’s a good distinction that I feel their funding policy already fulfills.
Words are cheap and money does buy influence.




