Whenever AI is mentioned lots of people in the Linux space immediately react negatively. Creators like TheLinuxExperiment on YouTube always feel the need to add a disclaimer that “some people think AI is problematic” or something along those lines if an AI topic is discussed. I get that AI has many problems but at the same time the potential it has is immense, especially as an assistant on personal computers (just look at what “Apple Intelligence” seems to be capable of.) Gnome and other desktops need to start working on integrating FOSS AI models so that we don’t become obsolete. Using an AI-less desktop may be akin to hand copying books after the printing press revolution. If you think of specific problems it is better to point them out and try think of solutions, not reject the technology as a whole.

TLDR: A lot of ludite sentiments around AI in Linux community.

  • Killing_Spark@feddit.de
    542·
    5 months ago

    I think the biggest problem is that ai for now is not an exact tool that gets everything right. Because that’s just not what it is built to do. Which goes against much of the philosophy of most tools you’d find on your Linux PC.

    Secondly: Many people who choose Linux or other foss operating system do so, at least partially, to stay in control over their system which includes knowing why stuff happens and being able to fix stuff. Again that is just not what AI can currently deliver and it’s unlikely it will ever do that.

    So I see why people just choose to ignore the whole thing all together.

    • callcc@lemmy.world
      144·
      5 months ago

      This and on top of being inexact, it’s not understandable and un-transparent. These are two of the top reasons to push for free software. Even if the engine executing and teaching models are free, the model itself can’t really be considered free because of its lack of transparency.

      • MudMan@fedia.io
        91·
        5 months ago

        That is a stretch. If you try to download and host a local model, which is fairly easy to do these days, the text input and output may be semi-random, but you definitely have control over how to plug it into any other software.

        I, for one, think that fuzzy, imprecise outputs have lots of valid uses. I don’t use LLMs to search for factual data, but they’re great to remind you of names of things you know but have forgotten, or provide verifiable context to things you have heard but don’t fully understand. That type of stuff.

        I think the AI shills have done a great disservice by presenting this stuff as a search killer or a human replacement for tasks, which it is not, but there’s a difference between not being the next Google and being useless. So no, Apple and MS, I don’t want it monitoring everything I do at all times and becoming my primary interface… but I don’t mind a little search window where I can go “hey, what was that movie from the 50s about the two old ladies that were serial killers? Was that Cary Grant or Jimmy Stewart?”.

        • callcc@lemmy.world
          2·
          5 months ago

          I’m not against probabilistic models and the like. I merely try to capture part of the reason they are not always well received in the floss community.

          I use LLMs regularly, and there is nothing rivalling them in many use cases.

    • snooggums@midwest.socialEnglish
      91·
      5 months ago

      I think the biggest problem is that ai for now is not an exact tool that gets everything right.

      The biggest problem is that it isn’t an exact tool, but is being presented as if it was and implemented as a replacement for people instead of a tool they can use to make themselves more efficient.

    • zingo@lemmy.ca
      32·
      5 months ago

      Yeah, sure don’t want Skynet built-in on my Linux Distro.

    • FatCat@lemmy.worldOP
      632·
      5 months ago

      Good point about the imprecision. On the other hand most Linux desktop users are Normie’s, think Steam deck and so on.

      Some of the most popular Linux desktops are built for ordinary people with the KISS principle in mind. Not arch using tinkerers

      • Killing_Spark@feddit.de
        9·
        5 months ago

        I’m not saying nobody should work on this. There is obviously demand or at least big tech is assuming demand. I’m just saying it’s not surprising to me a lot of Foss developers don’t really care.

      • someacnt_@lemmy.world
        3·
        5 months ago

        I used ubuntu until a few weeks ago, where I switched to Pop OS. In this sense, I might be close to the “normies”. Yet, I am incredibly skeptical of AI.

        It’s distinct.

      • hydroptic
        821·
        5 months ago

        On the other hand most Linux desktop users are Normie’s, think Steam deck and so on.

        Jesus fuck what a statement. Your parents probably regret having you.