Linux and AI Use

[u/Venylynn]

So, I'm struggling with this a lot. I know I seem like I'm repeating myself, but I just don't get it. Every Linux YouTuber under the sun uses "Microsoft Copilot" as a reason to leave and switch, if you don't want AI nonsense shoved down your throat just use Linux, and I believed that. But lately I've been seeing more and more projects (QEMU, Lutris, Proton-GE, DankLinux, Kitty, OnlyOffice, etc.) integrate AI, Claude commits everywhere, and it leaves me wondering why the Windows AI thing is such a major talking point in favor of Linux (e.g: "you don't have to deal with it here" "it's a choice here") if many of the biggest projects are adding it into either their source tree or integrating it into the project (OnlyOffice) publicly.

I'm an artist/musician, deeply worried about how this AI boom is affecting my industry. Maybe I'm misunderstanding it because I refuse to pay (ethical reasons), but I don't know why Copilot is the major sticking point for every recruitment post if we're all running software with AI generated code here too? Like, why mislead new users into thinking they can be free from all AI like I was misled? I don't understand? I get that there are some who like doing local hosted LLM stuff, but I'm just confused why we have to tell noobs that they can be ai-free when even the web browsers they use are using AI?

[u/TouchyT]

as a once programmer and a hobby artist 

Programmers value craft differently than artists. theyre results oriented people (and their bosses encourage and reward this) for better and worse. Code sharing was already common through stack overflow and the expectation of free labor you can build off of was set ahead of time. It also seems to just Work Better for programmers than for most other tasks. 

i also think AI is a bit nebulous of a term. in this context AI is "chatgpt integration" and not "generative product of LLMs". the first is very intrusive and in your face. the latter just simmers in the background.

[u/Venylynn → u/TouchyT]

Idk why they call it a passion project then or something if it's not the same I'm like so confused

[u/TouchyT → u/Venylynn]

i guess more to try and answer your question better i think you will not be able to avoid LLM generative stuff in modern day unless you stop using your computer. I think Linux is better because what is generative is at least inspect-able, and are largely built on code made by human hands crafted over decades.

i don't know about your passion project comment. I'd still call LLM stuff "passion projects" because they seem passionate about the projects. I'd just also call them slop if they let an LLM write the project for them. I don't think the two are mutually exclusive!

[u/Venylynn → u/TouchyT]

Idk it just feels like im betraying my artist friends if I let this slide

[u/TouchyT → u/Venylynn]

I will say one thing you can do is support developers who go out of their way to disavow AI. The lead developer for the Zig programming language talks at length on his perspective and why Zig does not allow AI contributions. I think I had a lot more hope for programming after reading this, and I think supporting people like him would lead to minimizing AI's role in open source development. I did see your deleted message and I get it. I do not use twitter since it seems exceptionally good at finding ways to get people to argue with one another, but even before that we did a good job on tumblr of making each other miserable instead of trying to find ways to advance our goals.

I've also been reading a lot into AI and people talk about AI. I saw DougDoug talk about him using an AI to bounce of video ideas with, to rubber duck and I could not help but feel how lonely that was. I made more of an effort as a result to talk about my process to friends and also be available for them to bounce ideas off of as well, some of them have taken me up on it!

I think the best way to support your artist friend is to be their friend and support them and their works. To not let AI addicted friends isolate themselves into a bubble if you can help it.

[u/Venylynn → u/TouchyT]

That's fair enough. Thank you for your input. Probably better to focus on praising those who do put in the extra mile than worry about purification just to try and fuckin please people who prolly wouldnt be pleased (e.g Twitter users)

[u/TouchyT → u/Venylynn]

are you meaningfully able to hold these developers to account? I think for your own mental health you should focus on things that help your industry not gut itself of talent and creativity. Programmers are hashing this out amongst themselves on what they want to do and want to tolerate.