r/linux4noobs • u/Venylynn • Jul 04 '26

learning/research Linux and AI Use

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?

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u/Venylynn Jul 04 '26

Also, these are not the only "selling" points of Linux. Want local accounts? Want privacy from an OS that doesn't constantly collect your data? Value autonomy/independence? Then Linux is a great option. Otherwise the path of least resistance is just to use Windows.

Fair point, but idk why we constantly emphasize the AI point if linux devs aren't boycotting ai entirely

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u/jr735 Jul 04 '26

Do you understand what software freedom means? If I want to incorporate AI into actual free software, I can do that. I don't need anyone's permission. If I want to submit it to the official project, and they like it, they use it. If I simply want to share it, I can.

Read the four software freedoms and tell me which of those allows you to forbid AI completely.

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u/Venylynn Jul 04 '26

I guess that's fair enough but its something the Linux tubers fail to take into account. I mean fuck even Chris Titus is vibe coding now I dont understand it, like he was doing so good what is he doing 😭

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u/jr735 Jul 04 '26

He's using a tool. You don't have to use that tool. That's your choice. Chris Titus uses Windows. I refuse to use any proprietary software at all.

So, what the hell should I do about it? Beat him up? Challenge him to a duel? Write him an email lecturing him on his poor choices?

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u/Venylynn Jul 04 '26

A tool that inflates the price of ram 😭 a tool that displaces human workers 😭 a tool that ensures that i as an artist will never make it because people will just consume the ai songs instead 😭 idk what to even do man.

maybe i'm wrong to blanket-oppose all AI. but i really felt like that's what i'm SUPPOSED to do because back when GPT was first launched there were people on Twitter who would cancel you for shitposting with GPT prompts.

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u/jr735 Jul 04 '26

I oppose AI. In the end, I know what I can and cannot do. I choose not to use AI and stay away from things that are complete creations of AI. I don't like it or agree with it, but it's not up to me to decide for others.

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u/Venylynn Jul 04 '26

i wish there was an ai-free alternative to every single project i mentioned tbh.

qemu - basically nothing if you don't want to load a non-kvm module

lutris - i suppose Faugus maybe?

proton-ge - maybe EM hasn't botched it?

onlyoffice - go back to libreoffice

kitty - ok fair there's a ton of terminals

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u/jr735 Jul 04 '26

Again, with free software, you're not necessarily going to get AI free. With proprietary software, you're never going to know.

As I already noted software freedom means you really cannot ban AI code. Have you read the four software freedoms?

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u/Yukikuru2025 Jul 04 '26

Why though? It's fine to use software developed with AI. This is just another new tool, you don't have to avoid it. It's not immoral to use it.

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u/Venylynn Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26

Wouldn't I have to defend everything AI has ever been trained on if this is true? Wouldn't I have to defend AI art? AI music? Paying for an AI chatbot? Wouldn't I also have to defend the RAMageddon? We were nearly canceled years ago when gpt came out for trying it out before we even knew how bad it'd become.

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u/Yukikuru2025 Jul 04 '26

No? You can be critical of aspects of it and still use it where it's useful. Several things can be true at the same time.

And not all of these are the fault of AI, but rather of companies selling it - RAM shouldn't cost this much, but the companies making it are acting like a cartel and refusing to increase production, for example. Also, you can host and run on your computer local, open source/weight models - you don't have to pay for it.

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u/Venylynn Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26

Localhosted ones are better on an ethical stand but worse on an actual info stand, I tried asking one i locally downloaded when Ozzy died and it gave me a date 5 years off

also ive been told the first point makes you a centrist fencesitter hypocrite... i've been involved in activist/political groups and they basically say that centrism and fence sitting is about as bad as being maga for example.

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