Just seeing the list here: https://codeberg.org/small-hack/open-slopware
I don’t know what to think about it, many incredible open-source projects went downhill, some worse than others, full AI permission usage and some of them even advertise AI providers on README.md. I’m even using many of them myself.
Even the good guys are falling, I’m not sure what to think about it. Am I overreacting maybe?
You might think, that’s fine, not a big deal, some of them just allow AI usage, but not AI generated code, but for how long? If you allow use of AI for anything the tendency is that you’ll be even more open about it in the future.
List of projects that personally draw my attention or I use eventually:
- Firefox: not unexpected, but still, I had hope on Mozilla bring more tech awareness on mainstream
- Spaceship prompt: I use this on my terminal for customization, why’d you need AI for such a simple project?
- VLC: just sad
- curl: sad x 10
- Vim: sad x 20
- zoxide: they literally promoting AI providers in the README, such a simple tool as well, why?
- CoMaps/Organic Maps/OsmAnd: the few ones providing a good alternative to Google Maps
- Element: that’s literally the most used client for Matrix I guess?
- Python: I thought they were the good guys as well
- Lemmy: unexpected, code of conduct says it’s allowed
- Linux: the final boss, unbelievable
Is there any hope at all? Or am I just overreacting?
Funny: I often call LLMs the asbestos of our time when talking to my colleagues. There are legitimate fears about the long-term consequences. But as with all risks, the industry — myself included — will happily take them until the consequences fully materialize.
You can make a bold bet by shunning LLMs completely and thus avoiding the associated risk if you believe in them strongly. If you’re right you stand to be in a fantastic position.