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iTerm2 removes AI feature from core, creates separate plugin

gitlab.com

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Re: iTerm2 removes AI feature from core, creates separate plugin

#21

Post by irskep »

alex_suzuki wrote: post #6

The comment for the change contains a note of bitterness: > I have two goals in this change: To allow developers in restrictive but technically incompetent organizations to continue to use iTerm2. That is, they disallow anything that could potentially exfiltrate data, but don't have their act together enough to implement MDM. So that people who hate AI can feel at ease that no AI will happen by accident without havin…

Those words were definitely written through gritted teeth, but it seems to me he's being very literal. The second point in particular is exactly what the anti-AI-feature people seem to be asking for (and they are reasonable for asking for it).

Re: iTerm2 removes AI feature from core, creates separate plugin

#22

Post by Cu3PO42 »

I feel really sorry for the developer. I've only been a casual observer, but from my view point the community's reaction was... not great, to put it lightly.

I get that a lot of us are tired of 'AI' being shoved down our throat at every possible turn. I get that a lot of us have privacy concerns. I get that maybe you don't want it in your terminal emulator.

But iTerm is a free (both as in gratis and as in libre) open source project. The developer released a feature that they were probably happy and excited about. It was off by default and didn't siphon data or do anything malicious. And a ton of reactions were as if iTerm had just added the devil incarnate or attacked people personally.

Disliking the feature is fine. Voicing your concerns and feedback is fine. But it should always be gracious and in good faith. I think this is a good change, if only to pacify the masses, and I applaud the developer for taking these steps, but I don't like how we got here.

EDIT: gnachman, if you're reading this, thank you for your tireless work on iTerm. It serves me extremely well whenever I'm on macOS and holds a special place in my heart. I bought a MacBook in 2013 and it was the first *nix system that I daily drove as a desktop for a long time. I installed iTerm 2 in my first week and it was a constant companion for many years.

Re: iTerm2 removes AI feature from core, creates separate plugin

#23

Post by ThrowawayTestr »

janice1999 wrote: post #10

I'm not an iTerm2 user and the attitude of the developer in the response has certainly convinced me to never become one. I understand open source developers get burnt out, particularly with backlash from demanding users who contribute nothing in return, but the contempt for users with very valid concerns about AI and data leaks is not a healthy sign.

>very valid concerns

The AI stuff is disabled by default, the concerns are unfounded.

Re: iTerm2 removes AI feature from core, creates separate plugin

#24

Post by vasachi »

atkailash wrote: post #8
mmastrac wrote: post #3

The whole drama was pretty silly, and the fact that everyone got upset that a feature that is inactive by default, consumes no processing power, memory or anything else and bullied the author of the open-source program should make everyone unhappy. This is why open-source maintainers burn out and we can't have nice things. Honestly, people, please consider the human on the other side of the toxic discourse.

Exactly. You have to provide it your own API key. If you don’t want it, don’t put it in and bam, no problem

Say they introduce a bug, that will try to call that API even when there is no key.

Re: iTerm2 removes AI feature from core, creates separate plugin

#26

Post by _fat_santa »

alex_suzuki wrote: post #6

The comment for the change contains a note of bitterness: > I have two goals in this change: To allow developers in restrictive but technically incompetent organizations to continue to use iTerm2. That is, they disallow anything that could potentially exfiltrate data, but don't have their act together enough to implement MDM. So that people who hate AI can feel at ease that no AI will happen by accident without havin…

> To allow developers in restrictive but technically incompetent organizations to continue to use iTerm2

I mean sure it was a brash way of putting it but he's not wrong. I contract with an org that basically shuts off access to anything that is in any way related to AI, we can't even visit the OpenAI website on our computers. If this feature was part of core iTerm2 then 100% they would have banned the use of iTerm.

Re: iTerm2 removes AI feature from core, creates separate plugin

#27

Post by fallingsquirrel »

rottencupcakes wrote: post #9
alex_suzuki wrote: post #6

The comment for the change contains a note of bitterness: > I have two goals in this change: To allow developers in restrictive but technically incompetent organizations to continue to use iTerm2. That is, they disallow anything that could potentially exfiltrate data, but don't have their act together enough to implement MDM. So that people who hate AI can feel at ease that no AI will happen by accident without havin…

[flagged]

A grizzled veteran, bemused at the irrational inanity of the world around him, yet still highly effective, listening to his users, and shipping software used by millions.

I agree, as long as you're not incompetent, I bet he'd be a blast to work with.

Re: iTerm2 removes AI feature from core, creates separate plugin

#28

Post by moloch »

vasachi wrote: post #24
atkailash wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly. You have to provide it your own API key. If you don’t want it, don’t put it in and bam, no problem

Say they introduce a bug, that will try to call that API even when there is no key.

Say they introduce a bug, that deletes every file on your machine.

Re: iTerm2 removes AI feature from core, creates separate plugin

#29

Post by fredsted »

alex_suzuki wrote: post #6

The comment for the change contains a note of bitterness: > I have two goals in this change: To allow developers in restrictive but technically incompetent organizations to continue to use iTerm2. That is, they disallow anything that could potentially exfiltrate data, but don't have their act together enough to implement MDM. So that people who hate AI can feel at ease that no AI will happen by accident without havin…

I understand the frustration. But they should have just closed this issue to begin with. Waste of time.

Re: iTerm2 removes AI feature from core, creates separate plugin

#30

Post by brysonreece »

vasachi wrote: post #24
atkailash wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly. You have to provide it your own API key. If you don’t want it, don’t put it in and bam, no problem

Say they introduce a bug, that will try to call that API even when there is no key.

And? Say your bank introduces a bug that siphons all your money; that’s the risk of operating in a digital age.
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