JetBrains' unremovable AI assistant meets irresistible outcry

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

JetBrains has bundled a proprietary AI assistant plugin into its IDEs that cannot be fully uninstalled, prompting backlash from long‑time paying users. Many complain that the tool is intrusive, low quality compared to rivals, and creates legal and compliance headaches in organizations that forbid any AI code‑sending features, even if disabled. Others note that the assistant is opt‑in, data isn’t used for training, and it can be hidden or switched off, but critics see the move as part of a broader “enshittification” trend: upselling subscriptions, cluttering the UI, and degrading performance in previously trusted developer tools.

Bundled AI Assistant & Removability

  • AI Assistant is shipped as a bundled plugin across JetBrains IDEs.
  • It cannot be fully uninstalled like other non‑bundled plugins; only disabled or hidden.
  • JetBrains says no AI features run and no data is sent unless all are true: user logs in, explicitly accepts data policy, starts trial/pays, and (for commercial licenses) org admin enables it.
  • Some report early versions re‑enabled or nagged for updates after being disabled; this drove much of the anger.
  • A .noai file can disable it per project; there’s also an organization‑level kill switch, but that wasn’t obvious to everyone.

Legal, Compliance, and Privacy Concerns

  • Many workplaces have blanket bans on AI tools; the mere presence of an AI client (even “inert”) can trigger audits or bans.
  • Some worry about code being sent to third‑party LLMs and possible training leakage; others note JetBrains explicitly says AI traffic isn’t used for training.
  • Skeptics argue closed‑source IDEs could exfiltrate data regardless, so trust is the real issue.

User Experience, Performance, and UI

  • Frequent complaints: intrusive icon, AI entries taking prime context‑menu positions, update nags for a feature users don’t want.
  • New UI is widely criticized as ugly, low‑contrast, and hiding controls behind hover, reducing productivity; fear it will eventually be forced.
  • Some report IDEs getting slower, especially with WSL + Gradle; others say performance and Git/refactoring features keep improving.

Business Model, “Enshittification,” and AI Hype

  • Many view this as a “cash grab” and upsell: a second subscription inside a paid IDE, with persistent in‑product advertising.
  • Concerns about a broader trend: more subscriptions, telemetry, cloud tie‑ins, and gradual erosion of user control.
  • Defenders argue AI is costly to run, so separate billing and prominent placement are reasonable.

Alternatives and Mixed Reception

  • Several users are switching to Neovim, VSCodium, Kate, or sticking with VS Code; others say JetBrains still has no real equal for Java, PHP, or Rider/C#.
  • Some like the AI autocomplete and local‑only model, finding it genuinely helpful.
  • Overall sentiment skews negative on the forced bundling and UX, mixed on AI’s actual usefulness.