Any chance of developing a non-AI branch of Calibre?

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

Chris brought this to my attention - I haven't followed MR or Calibre development in awhile, other than to update the program. But I must say I am also not happy at all with AI integration into Calibre, even if it's opt-in and not on by default. Since I'm not moving thousands of ebooks to another program, I'm gonna have to deal with it, I suppose, but I do sort of feel like it's being shoved down my throat. Not up for debate, I feel how I feel, and don't expect Kovid to see this, or care if he does. Just going on record with my disappointment.

You don't get to decide what's up for debate. You only get to decide if you're going to participate in said debate or not.

There is literally NOTHING for you to deal with if you choose not to configure and enable any of Calibre's AI abilities. NOTHING is being shoved down your throat. You can continue to use Calibre exactly the way you are with absolutely no AI stuff to contend with. Your disappointment is being wasted.

[Dal Bhat]

https://download.calibre-ebook.com/

There's the link to previous versions. Pick one that predates what you don't like and install that one.

Then you don't have to come back and gripe about what doesn't affect you anyway.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Dal Bhat

https://download.calibre-ebook.com/

There's the link to previous versions. Pick one that predates what you don't like and install that one.

Then you don't have to come back and gripe about what doesn't affect you anyway.

And you also don't get to gripe when plugin or updates become incompatible with external sites or new formats
Take your pick: Backdate to eliminate a feature optional SETTING or keeping up with all the site changes when your OS can run the latest version.

[JSWolf]

I wasn't happy to have AI in calibre. But when it was first said that it was optional and the code doesn't run when you don't enable it, I let it go.

It's not worth fighting a battle you can never win. Ai is not going away. But it's optional and when you don't opt in, it doesn't run.

[Dal Bhat]

Until it becomes sentient.

[Comfy.n]

Originally Posted by Dal Bhat

Until it becomes sentient.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

As I understand it, Calibre's ai features must be manually configured in in order to be enabled. If you have no account for an online llm (or have not set up a local llm of your own) there is no need to disable anything. There is no ai integration without a configured llm. So it's opt-in only. Has that changed?

Thanks for this explanation. I loathe and avoid AI to the extent humanly possible, so it's reassuring to know that my Calibre installation is AI-free until I decide to make it otherwise

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

Thanks for this explanation. I loathe and avoid AI to the extent humanly possible, so it's reassuring to know that my Calibre installation is AI-free until I decide to make it otherwise

Calibre has always been FREE.
If AI wants to be paid for you to use Calibre, then it is fraud.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by theducks

Calibre has always been FREE.
If AI wants to be paid for you to use Calibre, then it is fraud.

By "AI-free" I meant, of course "free (devoid) of AI" not "free in the "at no cost" sense. I've never paid for Calibre, occasional donations notwithstanding