Been a long time Debian user but with the recent AI decision I am planning on moving on so anyone have an anti-AI recommendations? I understand its being used in the kernel as well but are there any distros taking a full anti-AI approach to the parts of the code they control?
Since folks seem a little confused on what I am referring to here is the mailing list page regarding the use of gen ai without disclosure vote: https://lists.debian.org/debian-vote/2026/08/msg00360.html
Phoronix article on it: https://www.phoronix.com/news/Debian-Votes-Responsible-AI-Use
We’ve seen this movie before, when they adopted systemd. It’ll be fine.
Damn it I was just asking myself the same question. I don’t expect it to be easy to find one that’s anywhere near as good as Debian but without that one problem. I think a lot of them won’t have any firm policies yet.
Arch, Void, Gentoo, Chimera and Aeryn all have anti-AI policies.
Do you know where I can find the Arch policy?
I must have misremembered it because I also can’t find an official AI policy.
But the devs have banned LLMs in their issue tracker, at the very least:- https://gitlab.archlinux.org/archlinux/packaging/packages/onnxruntime/-/work_items/18#note_460864
- https://gitlab.archlinux.org/archlinux/packaging/packages/mkinitcpio-systemd-tool/-/work_items/3#note_503832
- https://gitlab.archlinux.org/archlinux/packaging/packages/python-huggingface-hub/-/work_items/43#note_504464
I you are ready to make an exception for the Linux kernel you might as well make an exception for the Debian distribution which is the basis of a lot of stuff.
I had another look and I think it’s basically down to Gentoo. If you’re in for the BSDs, you got NetBSD as well. And OpenBSD seems to be anti AI-contributions as well. I didn’t really find anything else with a strict No-AI policy.
I’ll take a look at them! AerynOS seems to be the primarily distro I have found with a no AI policy but sadly its atomic. Thanks for the recommendations!
I missed AerynOS. Thanks! Let’s hope you’re going to find another one. Given there’s lots and lots of people who don’t appreciate AI written code… I feel there has to be a market for a mainstream Linux distro with a no AI policy.
Agreed! With how many linux distros we have out there some choices on AI usage would be nice!
Fantastic it is atomic. Very promising future with this independent distro in these times.
Linus himself said the linux project is not anti AI and if you dont want AI in Linux, fork it.
just fork it bro, what a disingenuous argument for a codebase with 40+ million lines of low-level code
You cannot tell from the code necessarily anyway so anti-AI policies are hard to enforce. In the end the developer (or AI wielding human) is responsible for the code quality and its license which is what matters. All this discussion feels just like the usually culture war dividing the community. I’m more concerned about the intentions of people adding fuel to the fire.
some form of BSD, because the entirety of the linux kernel is about to have the same attitude :
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-Is-Not-Anti-AI
Torvalds wrote on the mailing list:
"[In response to a comment: It seems like [1] expresses a very anti-LLM position in general"] Yes. And no, that's not the position of the Linux kernel. I realize that some people really dislike AI, but this is an area where I'm willing to absolutely put my foot down as the top-level maintainer. Linux is not one of those anti-AI projects, and if somebody has issues with that, they can do the open-source thing and fork it. Or just walk away. AI is a tool, just like other tools we use. And it's clearly a useful one.Already mentioned it in the post description. The posts purpose is to find linux distros that don’t use AI in their own code. Sadly can’t do much when it comes to the kernel.
Ok… So what’s the point?
The posts purpose is to find linux distros that don’t use AI in their own code.
They all do, Torvalds checked in code that had AI assistance
I understand the kernel has utilized AI. I am referring specifically to the work done on this distro end. The rest of the software outside the kernel. Not much that can be done regarding the kernel unless someone does an anti-AI fork
Ok, seriously. What is an operating system to you? Where and why are you drawing the line at the distro? You can get linux DEs working in openBSD or use much of the *nix ecosystem there without kernel AI.
The Linux distributions are basically a preconfigured file system installation and package management system with default configs and applications. What exactly are you trying to boycott by boycotting Debian but not Linux?
You’re not going to get a straight answer. It’s futile and motivated by mental deficiency. It’s like asking why someone with OCD has to count all the different colors of Skittles in the bag before they can begin eating them.
Mental illness is their point.
Glass houses buddy. I’ve been reading your responses in this thread. You of all people don’t need to be throwing stones.
Thanks, njm1314. Everyone here has been so cordial, polite, and deserving of grace. It’s not like they regularly post on a sub called “fuck_ai” or anything. Oh, wait… They literally do.
Maybe this is the push you need to . . . Yes, maybe it’s time for . . . FreeBSD.
Search your feelings. You know it to be true.
I’ve been meaning to revisit FreeBSD for a while, I just haven’t gotten around to it.
I used FreeBSD extensively from versi9n 3.3 to 5something and barely touched linux back then. Only reason why I moved to linux was the larger community.
Then suddenly Linux became a good desktop OS without much hazzle at all, so it replaced both desktop and server-side use for me.
How is FreeBSD as a desktop OS these days? I vaguely remember compiling xfree86 from /usr/ports some 25 years ago, and dicking around with monitor sync rates to get Gnome to display properly.
To be honest that was sort of my story too - played around 15-20 years ago with it, then Debian (and the rest) Got Good and I just haven’t gone back.
Maybe I was just talking to myself.
Hmm.
I’ve been tempted to give it a go a few times. Mainly for fun tbh. Appreciate the recommendation!
I believe that there is now LLM generated code in the Linux kernel, so BSD is probably going to be where this path leads you. Solaris or AIX maybe ;p
FreeBSD has been slop for a while, the only slopfree BSD remaining is NetBSD, but that’s probably not practical to actually use.
FreeBSD does not include AI features in its core operating system, but the FreeBSD community and Foundation have explored AI-assisted tools for specific tasks like vulnerability discovery and driver development.
https://freebsdfoundation.org/blog/freebsd-ai-assisted-vulnerability-discovery-project-launch/
In purely utilitarian terms, are there any interesting differences in using freebsd or other bsds instead of linux?
Well, back in the day the guy who was really into it would bug out his eyes at you and go “Oh YES! There’s . . . “ and he’d immediately list two or three huge differences and then downshift to a bunch of reasons why that’s better™ and then you’d go home and not remember a single one very well.
These days I don’t really know. Is there a little red devil in the house?
NetBSD is more portable than Linux and supports a lot of CPU architectures. OpenBSD is secure by default. I think the BSD’S have jails, which are better containers, but I do not know much about it.
For desktop daily use, it only matters if you really want that Unix taste.
i wouldn’t say they’re “embracing AI” or ‘sloppified’… but anyway.
i think slackware isn’t using llm stuff for development. it’s my daily/fav distro. but it’s quite different from debian.
That is kinda crazy yeah
Debian was always the ol reliable, the alternative to Ubuntu
Tbh I am gonna trust them and not do anything
RedHat is an AI platform and I couldnt find any sort of AI policy but heard they kinda forced their developers to use LLMs?
NixOS allows AI generated code but no comments (file) with transparency and responsibility
I may be dumb but couldnt find anything in the OpenSUSE Open Source Policy so no idea there.
Arch, Gentoo, Void, Fedora…
Are you sure you’re not mixing up Debian for Ubuntu?
I’m pretty sure Debian just said they weren’t going to allow AI contributions
Posted some context in the description but the short version is Debian maintainers just voted to allow AI code without disclosure. Here is the vote: https://lists.debian.org/debian-vote/2026/08/msg00360.html
Am I reading it wrong? Did ban ai via social contact not win?
Nope. It’s a little confusing to read but option 5 won. It’s showcased in the part that lists the winner.
The pro-AI option that doesn’t require disclosure won. It has already caused one Debian developer to resign, and an ex-dev to comment on it.
Debian isn’t “ambracing AI”? Where’d you get that?
Ubuntu has been making plays in that direction. Not the same thing.
Posted some context in the description but the short version is Debian maintainers just voted to allow AI code without disclosure. Here is the vote: https://lists.debian.org/debian-vote/2026/08/msg00360.html
Because the people submitting the code are to be held responsible as always. If you are using Claude gemini or whoever and submit its code without checking. And you fuck something up that is on you, and you will be held responsible. Is how it should be.
People are going to use it if they want to. And realistically there isn’t a lot that you can do to stop it all. They’ll just start using it without attribution. There is no automated system that will be able to stop it. And policing it manually will do nothing but bogg down the current maintainers allowing them to accomplish even less.
If someone is submitting a lot of problematic slop code they don’t understand. They will be booted from the project like any other bad maintainer.
Debian devs voted to allow AI contributions.
Not even the same thing. They’re not stupid. They know people are going to use it. EMBRACING it would be more like adding AI nonsense tools wherever they can, and rely on automated systems that are based on LLMs to contribute code, which is not what’s happening here.
I recommend:
No AI there.
This is the only answer.
What about
?
No, that harms the environment somehow, I’m sure of it.
Oh! I know. It’s “fascist technology” because Texas Instruments is ownes by rich people.
It does use plastic. 🤔
By jove, you’re right! 😱 Clearly it’s fascist technology.
Better stick with the abacus.
Texas Instruments make weapon system.
There you go. Stick with the abacus. It’s the only way to be moral in his world. Of course, that’s assuming you don’t have a problem with the trees that died in its creation. To be WHOLLY moral, you should use rocks on the ground, in the outline of an abacus you made in the sand with your finger. And HOPEFULLY you didn’t disturb the micro ecosystem of the sand when you drew it.
I don’t think you know what a distro is. You’re going to need a distro that doesn’t include any packages that accept AI contributions, which is impossible to detect and enforce.
