AI-free alternatives exist and work well for users who reject LLM integration in their workflows
Source: Thomas Wilde. "An AI hater’s guide to keeping LLMs as far from your workflow as possible in 2026 – GeekWire." April 26, 2026. www.geekwire.com
The Gist
The author argues that you don't have to accept AI being shoved into every app and website you use. He spent four months finding good alternatives to popular software that has added AI features, and shows that AI-free options work just as well for most people's needs.
Conclusion
It is both possible and practical to maintain a productive digital workflow in 2026 while completely avoiding AI/LLM-integrated tools and services
Premises
- Many commonly used programs and websites have unnecessarily integrated AI features that make the user experience worse rather than better
- Viable alternatives to AI-integrated mainstream software exist across all major categories (browsers, office apps, search engines, email, etc.)
- These AI-free alternatives often perform as well as or better than their mainstream counterparts for basic user needs
- The author successfully replaced all major AI-integrated tools in his workflow over four months without significant functionality loss
- AI integration is often forced upon users who neither requested nor benefit from these features
- Many AI features are intrusive and disruptive to established workflows rather than genuinely helpful
Assumptions
- User productivity and satisfaction should take priority over implementing trendy AI features
- Software should do what users explicitly ask it to do rather than adding unwanted 'intelligent' features
- The current wave of AI integration is driven more by corporate interests than genuine user needs
- Simple, focused tools are often superior to feature-bloated alternatives with AI integration