I have a MacBook that was donated to me, and while I'm thankful, I really don't like Apple. I've been using it for about two years mainly for school applications and my online internship. I haven't updated my laptop in a while because I'm trying to avoid the latest updates that install AI features—I'm not comfortable with AI due to its environmental impact, its role in job displacement, and other reasons. Currently, I've turned off automatic updates, but I'm worried about missing important security updates and how that might affect my laptop's performance.
I'm also considering purchasing a new or newer laptop for college that won't have AI built in, but it seems like it's hard to find models that completely avoid this. I just need a laptop for basic tasks like writing, emailing, and printing, and I'm unsure how avoiding updates might affect that functionality.
I've heard about Linux as a potential option to dodge AI, but I don't really know anything about it. Can anyone help me understand how to avoid AI as much as possible while keeping my laptop functional?
4 Answers
To avoid AI features, it's worth noting that most modern operating systems come with some level of AI integration, like predictive text or smart suggestions. If you're looking to keep certain AI functions off, manual controls found in your settings can help. For now, you might be stuck with some AI features, especially if your Mac has a newer processor that supports them—just try to turn off any settings related to AI in the System Preferences. Not updating might lead to security issues, though, so weigh your options carefully.
Linux can indeed help you sidestep a lot of built-in AI features since it provides more control over what gets installed. Just keep in mind that transitioning to Linux does require some learning. But if you're up for it, it's a cleaner experience without the forced updates or AI installations many mainstream OS's have. Good luck!
Have you tried simply disabling features? You can go to System Settings, then Apple Intelligence & Siri, and turn off the main switch. It's straightforward and might ease your concerns without needing to dive into other systems.
If you mean avoiding things like chatbots or image generators, sure, you can skip those. But for basic functionalities like spell check or map routing, those are harder to avoid unless you roll back to an earlier version of macOS. Updating can help patch security holes, so it’s a balancing act for sure.
Thanks for the tip! I didn’t realize it could be that easy. I'll give it a try!