Simply saying “No AI” would forbid a huge amount of code that was written with assistive technologies that long precede the latest crop of proprietary LLMs; I'd venture it would cover almost all software in distributions for the past several decades.

“AI” is a marketing term, in continuous use from the mid-twentieth century to encompass a broad and ever-changing range of automation and other tools, that is deliberately vague. If we want to be clear what the ban does and does not cover, we need to avoid that term.

And then of course we can deliberate on exactly what is permitted (code that was auto-corrected by a spell checker? code that had its boilerplate syntax automatically generated?) versus what is forbidden (code that was generated in some proprietary data centre? code that is an unattributable, non-consensual remix of existing code? code that was probabilistically extruded from an LLM?), because we'll avoid the useless term “AI” and instead speak of specific tools and technologies.

For the 3 people that use void linux, sure.

No, and it doesn't say "almost nothing is included" either (that's just your interpretation of minimalism). The installation medium is bare-bones, yes, but that's not a complete ArchLinux installation.

FWIW: https://archlinux.org/packages/?q=LLM lots of relevant results.

In any case, that quote isn't an outspoken distancing from AI.

You don't see how your question on what gets included is answered by a statement saying almost nothing is included?

They’re all opt in, for now.

Add Void Linux to that list.

no idea their role in the organization aside from their forum privileges.

Not all OS forum maintainers are involved in OS development itself. Often the forum's "vibe" isn't even representative for the OS.

Here is a statement from Arch Linux

Nothing about AI 🤷

When other Kernels reach the point of support that Linux has, you betcha.

It looks like there is a way to do the opposite at least. Which means it is possible to do this. The same process should work but it is a significant change. Backups would be key for such a monumental change. I would prepare things for a reinstall as well just in case things go wrong.

I’ve seen the admins on the Forum admit that they DO NOT oppose AI.

If that is the bar you have set I have some bad news for you. You will not likely find many projects where everyone involved completely opposes AI. Even Linus himself has used it and thinks it can be useful for some usecases. Are you going to abandon the Linux kernel as well? Or arbitrary apply your values to different projects?

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.

The Admin on the forums was called Azdanov, no idea their role in the organization aside from their forum privileges. LINK HERE

I would assume that adding anything unnecessary to Arch would go against its very foundations. It's sort of the barebones minimum linux OS.

Here is a statement from Arch Linux:

Arch Linux is an independently developed, x86-64 general purpose GNU/Linux distribution versatile enough to suit any role. Development focuses on simplicity, minimalism, and code elegance. Arch is installed as a minimal base system, configured by the user upon which their own ideal environment is assembled by installing only what is required or desired for their unique purposes.

I’ve seen the admins on the Forum admit that they DO NOT oppose AI.

Are those actual CachyOS devs/maintainers?

I would like to learn about options for switching to Arch

Have Arch devs/maintainers ouspokenly distanced themselves from AI?

I'm experimenting with Debian now.

I can make one for you, won't have any mistakes, just give me few hours

Not exactly a daily driver. more a display machine hooked up to a TV used to monitor some sources.

Debian? Fedora? Bazzite?

See the other comment about the kernel, but that aside you could go down the https://www.linuxfromscratch.org/ route

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

Arch is cool. CachyOS is built on Arch and it's okay, for now, but the CachyOS devs certainly don't oppose AI afaik.

I feel that and I hope we get there one day, but for now it might be better to stick with a distro that has a proven track record of good maintainers properly reviewing code. You're searching for a daily driver for your machine, right? Or is it a more specialized use case?

Is this the year of the NetBSD desktop???

/s

Ubuntu has no mandatory AI integration, what are you on about?

If it ever got to the point that all distros had in-your-face-AI I'll turn my Pixel/GrapheneOS phone into a "desktop" computer. Just have to connect a hub, monitor, keyboard and mouse and take advantage of the pass-through charging.

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.

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.