I’m intent on getting rid of Ubuntu since their embrace of AI, and would prefer to avoid any other distro based on Ubuntu, since that’s just kicking the can down the road.
But a thorough search of the web for various versions of “Linux with no AI” only returns results that recommend AI infused distros and articles touting how great AI will be for Linux, or how to fix Linux using AI. 🤮
Can anyone recommend a distro that has proudly announced their refusal to ever consider adding #AIslop to their distro?
I think you cannot find any because the Linux kernel itself has AI assisted development happening. Distros that use the kernel then cannot say “No AI.”
Edit: Gentoo and NetBSD specifically do not allow AI generated code.
While I definitely prefer that the distribution have no AI code, most important for me is that the OS not have mandatory AI integration. I don’t want my boxes to EVER reach out to some LLM datacenter.
If you want no AI integration, I would reccomend debian or arch. Mainly because you can choose exactly what packages are installed and they have a large community.
I’m experimenting with Debian now.
I’m happy with Debian, yes.
You may be interested in the deliberations Debian has had earlier this year on exactly what should be permitted or banned with regard to contributions generated by bots.
Thats what I run on my laptop, its great. The main thibg with debian is that the packages are old, (6 months~) but very stable. I would reccomend using the testing version for newer packages. I am not saying debian 13 is bad tho, its what I run.
Add Void Linux to that list.
For the 3 people that use void linux, sure.
Nonsense. There are at least half a dozen of us! I missed the large community part.
No mainstream distro afaik have mandatory AI. This isn’t windows
AFAIK integration is an option and something you have to install to get in sny case, that and ai datacenters cost money to use, something linuxes don’t have.
Arch is cool. CachyOS is built on Arch and it’s okay, for now, but the CachyOS devs certainly don’t oppose AI afaik.
Ubuntu has no mandatory AI integration, what are you on about?
https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2026/04/ubuntu-ai-features
https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/artificial-intelligence/as-ubuntu-embraces-ai-community-backlash-halts-fedora-s-ai-desktop-plans/ar-AA27gjC7
They’re all opt in, for now.
What happened to the term “mandatory”?
It’s getting installed with the OS, sounds pretty mandatory to me.
Is this the year of the NetBSD desktop???
/s