Canonical's approach to AI is refreshingly thoughtful – Microsoft should take note

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Canonical lets you pick and choose how you’ll use AI.
• In Ubuntu, AI is built into key features and optional AI tools.
• While Microsoft is about control, Canonical puts you in charge.

In a new blog post, Jon Seager, Canonical’s VP of engineering for Ubuntu, explained how the company is baking AI into its Linux desktop and server experience in Ubuntu Linux 26.04 and beyond. Unlike Windows, where Microsoft is slapping its Copilot label on everything, Canonical cooks AI into its Linux distro on open terms: open models where possible, local inference by default, and no rebranding of the distro into an AI product.

Seager explained that Canonical is “ramping up its use of AI tools in a focused and principled manner.” That approach means a clear preference for open‑weight models whose license terms align with Ubuntu’s long‑standing open‑source values, coupled with open‑source…