Question about A.I.

[Mauser]

I have noticed that A.I. is a controversial subject depending on how each of us sees it so I will try to be as neutral as possible about questions about it. While A.I. is becoming more common place I hope I can ask about it without it causing trouble. Will there be an option to enable or disable A.I. in computers running LINUX? Or will this depend on the motherboard manufacture if there is an enable or disable A.I. option only be possible in the BIOS? Peace.

[DukeComposed]

Will there be an option to enable or disable A.I. in computers running LINUX? Or will this depend on the motherboard manufacture

I think right now the only safe answer to give is "It's too soon to tell." AI as it exists right now is as a large marketplace of competing products. Apple will bake their AI into their products. Microsoft will bake their AI into their products. Google will bake AI into their Pixel phones. At the moment it's not even about using "an" AI. It's about using their AI, specifically. And when they own the entire product silo, software and hardware combined, forcing AI on the end user is a foregone conclusion. Fortunately, Linux is only software.

There aren't many Linux-first hardware OEMs and the ones there are aren't too picky about what you run on them. System76 machines have a dedicated OS for them... but you don't have to use it. Tuxedo machines have a dedicated OS for them... but you don't have to use it.

So I think a lot of what the future holds for free and open-source software is figuring out how to use the high-end AI-specific chips that machines will soon begin accumulating, likely en masse. They may have other uses beyond directly using them for their intended purpose and I'm sure someone will find a way to make them handy. In the meantime I have a hard time seeing every Linux distro comprehensively enforcing AI support on every install. So you might have an inescapable AI agent on some default Linux installs in the future, especially from the corporate-driving distros, but I'm guessing there are at least a few projects out there that are going to resist the urge to agentify for a long, long time.

[CharlesV]

Actually, I think that is an extremely good question and Duke gave a great answer.

I also dont believe there is really a clean, obvious answer at this time.

To try to answer your question - Basically yes, as far as I have seen, you can usually disable AI hardware features, in BIOS for most modern motherboards, (ie turning off AI/NPU features )

Also, so far as I am aware, in Linux you can disable the drivers/modules that control AI hardware. It currently is not too hard, and is just like disabling any other hardware feature

And, typically the AI hardware that I have seen is separate from regular computing, so disabling it won't hurt normal computer use. ( or it just uses GPU), and is mainly there to speed up specific AI tasks if you want it. (And again, main stream Windows typically.)

[rambo919]

I think even hardware manufacturers are struggling to figure out what exactly AI implementation will look like... everyone is fumbling around in the dark and at some point it will reach a "AI or not" standard for the kernel or distro or whatever.... but we are not there yet so there is no point in prognosticating.

What is clear, looking at the unfortunately largely decided init issue and the now cold war turning hot display server issue.... is it will be a problem when it happens but best to cross that bridge when we get there.

[AK-47]

Even if you can't turn them off per se, it is unlikely that an NPU will be of any use unless the software/firmware is up for the job. For instance, a Copilot+ PC meets certain specifications to run that software stack. A bit like the Vista Capable/Vista Premium Ready PCs of 2006/2007. I would be far more concerned about trojans like the Intel ME or AMD PSP that are basically a black box, than any kind of "AI" crap.
Hell, there's AI in everything these days, even stuff that isn't ostensibly AI; I recently came across an unmanaged switch with DIP switch settings to turn "AI PoE" on. Basically the "AI" PoE was their fancy marketing way of saying, we support PoE negotiation just like every other device.

What isn't available in Linux at the moment is a standard API for such applications. I suspect it will be a while before that happens, it took 25 years plus just to get a half-decent API for the bloody audio stack!

[Mauser]

Interesting well written answers. I will leave this question as unsolved even though I believe it has been solved so others can add their knowledge and or opinion to this question since LINUX has a history of choice. Thank you all who answered so far.

[txm0523]

Interesting Topic. I did a search for my motherboard to see if there were any AI hardware as such. Here was my question:

does asus prime b450m-a-II have AI features or hardware ?

Reply from search:

ASUS Prime B450M-A II AI Features and Hardware

The ASUS Prime B450M-A II motherboard does incorporate some AI features and hardware capabilities, although it may not be as advanced as some of the higher-end models in ASUS's lineup. Here are the key aspects:
AI Features

AI Suite 3: This software provides a user-friendly interface for managing system performance and power efficiency. It includes features for automated system tuning and monitoring.
Fan Xpert 2+: This feature allows for intelligent fan control, optimizing cooling based on system temperature and workload, which can be considered a form of AI-driven management.
Digi+ VRM: This voltage-regulator module offers real-time control over voltage settings, enhancing power efficiency and stability, which can be seen as a smart feature for performance tuning.

Hardware Specifications

Chipset: The motherboard is based on the AMD B450 chipset, supporting AMD Ryzen processors.
Memory Support: It supports up to 128GB of DDR4 RAM with speeds up to 4400 MHz (OC).
Storage Options: It includes 1 M.2 slot and 6 SATA 6Gb/s ports for flexible storage configurations.
Connectivity: Features include USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, HDMI, DVI-D, and a 1 Gb Ethernet port.
Cooling Solutions: The motherboard is equipped with multiple heatsinks and hybrid fan headers, ensuring effective cooling during intensive tasks.

Summary of AI and Hardware Features
Feature Description
AI Suite 3 User-friendly software for performance tuning and monitoring.
Fan Xpert 2+ Intelligent fan control for optimized cooling.
Digi+ VRM Real-time voltage control for enhanced stability and efficiency.
Chipset AMD B450, supporting Ryzen processors.
Memory Support Up to 128GB DDR4, speeds up to 4400 MHz (OC).
Storage Options 1 M.2 slot and 6 SATA 6Gb/s ports.
Connectivity USB 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI, DVI-D, 1 Gb Ethernet.
Cooling Solutions Multiple heatsinks and hybrid fan headers for effective cooling.

The ASUS Prime B450M-A II is designed to provide a solid foundation for building a capable system, with some intelligent features to enhance performance and efficiency. If you have specific use cases in mind, feel free to share, and I can provide more tailored insights!
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So, is there anything I should be worreied about at this time ?

[Germ]

I would go into the BIOS and disable AI, if possible.

[Melber]

Interesting well written answers...

Perhaps resulting from an OP posing a clearly formulated train of thought and questions rather than a random dude youtube link with a click-baity title?

[BitterTruth]

The way I see it, we're too late. The genie's out of the bottle and there's no way it 's going back in.

Let's not forget it's not only computers that run linux. Billions of embedded devices also run linux and they all connect constantly to the cloud too (watches, cameras, domestic appliances, door locks). A lot of these are coming from China. The security features that a lot of them have are non-existent or poorly implemented with very poor admin passwords built in.

People are focused on the moral and ethical implications of it but for me the most worrying things are the amount of data collection coupled with cloud connectivity that is 'necessary' so that the AI can monitor and analyse every situation constantly. Everything wants to be constantly connected to the cloud, so that the AI can 'learn' and use the extra computing power to make better decisions. It's a security nightmare and there's hardly any legislation to govern it. Manufacturers can pretty much do what they like.

The amount of personal/private data that people are knowingly or unknowingly giving away is unprecedented and most of this data collection/processing is ungoverned. Development is moving so quickly that legislation can't even keep up.

If the AI, hardware or software, could be contained locally I could probably live with it. In that scenario it's a decent tool like any other especially if you can set different levels of autonomy on it. However, if it's connectivity to the cloud is required (which it always is) then it puts too much private data and power/control in somebody else's hands and as you can imagine it opens the door to manipulation, exploitation and abuse.

EDIT: We might see specialised AI dedicated distros though in the future just like we have AV Linux for media production and the liquorix or RT kernels for real time processing