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Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (Resolute Raccoon) Is Now Available for Download
Powered by the Linux 7.0 kernel series and using the Mesa 26.0 graphics stack, Ubuntu 26.04 LTS features the latest and greatest GNOME 50 desktop environment, which offers a Wayland-only desktop experience, but X11 applications are still supported through the Xwayland compatibility layer.
Other notable changes in the Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (Resolute Raccoon) release include an updated Ubuntu Desktop installer with hardware-backed encryption on computers that support the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) security chip and automated installation with Landscape.
FOSS Force:
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Ubuntu 26.04 Released! The Raccoon Is Out of the Bag (With Screenshots) - FOSS Force
Today Canonical let loose Ubuntu 26.04 ‘Resolute Raccoon.’ Forget the decimal, this is a major LTS release, something that only happens every two years in Canonical-land. Starting later today, you’ll see the lineup of official baby *buntus coming out with their own takes on this, but right now we’re going to concentrate on the distro that made Shuttleworth famous…
Several changes of note have been made to the latest Ubuntu offering, specifically the inclusion of the Gnome 50 desktop environment, the newest 7.0 Linux kernel, a new media player called Showtime, and a new system monitor called Resources. Also, the Gnome Terminal is gone, replaced by Ptyxis (don’t ask how it’s pronounced), which is designed to work natively with Wayland and fits cleanly into the GNOME 50 design language.
The Resources app deserves special mention. It’s a relatively new application from GNOME, built with GTK4/libadwaita and designed with a modern interface. While not yet included among GNOME’s core default apps, it overlaps significantly with the functionality of GNOME System Monitor and GNOME Power Statistics, allowing users to monitor CPU, memory, GPU, network, storage, and power usage.
OMG Ubuntu:
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Ubuntu 26.04 LTS is Now Available to Download
Support-wise, Ubuntu 26.04 LTS receives a minimum of 5 years of updates, and an additional 5 years of security coverage with Ubuntu Pro.
For a full rundown of what’s changed since Ubuntu 25.10, see my features overview.
If you’re upgrading from Ubuntu 24.04 LTS my deeper-dive on the cumulative changes is worth a read first – the list is HUGE.
Head down to the downloads to grab an ISO for 64-bit Intel/AMD, a generic ARM64 installer for Snapdragon-based devices or preinstalled image for (increasingly pricey) Raspberry Pis.
It's FOSS:
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Things You Should Know About Ubuntu 26.04
Ubuntu 26.04 is releasing today. It is natural to have questions about a new release, specially for beginners.
I have tried to answer those frequently asked questions about Ubuntu 26.04 here. I hope it helps clear your doubts if you had any. And if you still have questions, feel free to ask in the comment section below.
More From It's FOSS:
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Lubuntu 26.04 LTS Ships LXQt 2.3, and Keeps Wayland on the Backburner
Lubuntu is an official Ubuntu flavor that uses LXQt as its default desktop environment.
It is one of the lighter options in the Ubuntu family, built around keeping resource usage low without stripping out the things people actually need from a desktop, and part of what makes it appealing is its approach to hardware.
LXQt has a noticeably lower memory footprint compared to heavier environments like GNOME or Plasma, which makes Lubuntu a reasonable choice for people running older or low-spec machines.
And now, the project has reached its 30th release with Lubuntu 26.04 LTS "Resolute Raccoon."
Kubuntu 26.04 LTS Drops X11 Support and Goes All in On Wayland
Kubuntu is one of the longest-running Ubuntu flavors and also one of the more sensible ones to recommend.
It ships the KDE Plasma desktop on top of an Ubuntu base and is maintained by a volunteer team that tracks the KDE release cycle closely and works to get the latest Plasma builds into each release.
If you want the KDE experience without leaving the Ubuntu ecosystem, Kubuntu is the cleanest way to get there.
Anyhow, with Ubuntu 26.04 LTS officially out, Kubuntu 26.04 LTS is also here alongside it, and here's what this release has to offer.
The Awesome New Ubuntu 26.04 LTS is Here
Ubuntu doesn't need much of an introduction. It has been a reliable starter distro for people finding their way into Linux for years, and for good reasons as well. It installs without drama, runs on most hardware, and the surrounding community is large enough that almost any problem you run into has already been solved and documented somewhere.
I ran it as my daily driver for a while, a few years ago, and the experience was just what I needed at the time. It was fast, familiar for someone coming from Winslop, and stable enough that I wasn't stuck fixing issues every other day.
My experience with Ubuntu was what made me go further into the world of Linux and open source, and I still recommend it to anyone who asks me for a distro suggestion.
5 Reasons to Upgrade to Ubuntu 26.04 (and 3 Reasons to Stay Away)
Ubuntu 26.04, the much anticipated LTS upgrade to 25.10 and 24.04, is here. This release promises to be one of the more daring and potentially revolutionary releases in quite some time, delivering on many much-awaited features, and laying the foundation for the next generation of Ubuntu and its derivatives. Still, this release is bound to be one of the most controversial, in that it's got quite a lot of good, but to some, a little bit of "bad". To be fair, how you see it is largely a matter of perspective.
In this article, we'll look at 5 of the reasons you should consider upgrading to Ubuntu 26.04, and 3 reasons you might want to sit this one out, or even consider if it's time to set sail for other shores.
Two More:
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Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Resolute Raccoon is now available with Linux 7.0 and native CUDA - Neowin
The 11th long-term support release of Ubuntu has just been made available for public consumption. This version is Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, codenamed Resolute Raccoon, and it will get standard support until 2031 and extended support until 2036. There will also be a purchasable add-on if you ever wanted to take support all the way up to 2041, but this will be geared toward organizations that need a legacy system to run certain applications.
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS ships with the latest GNOME desktop environment and a modernized set of default applications. It also means that Ubuntu has completed its shift to Wayland which gives users smoother visuals, per-monitor scaling, native touch and gesture support, no screen tearing, and optimized performance across platforms, including support for the latest NVIDIA production drivers.
This update to GNOME also includes a broad set of accessibility fixes across the Shell and the default applications that Ubuntu ships with. The App Center has also been updated to feature improved Debian package support.
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS "Resolute Raccoon" released with Linux 7.0 - CNX Software
Canonical has just announced the release of Ubuntu 26.04 LTS “Resolute Raccoon” Linux distribution about two years after Ubuntu 24.04 LTS “Noble Numbat” was introduced. The new version of the operating system comes with the just-released Linux 7.0 kernel, GNOME 50, and a range of updates and new features.
As a long-term support release, Ubuntu 26.04 LTS will be supported for 5 years until April 2031, and an Ubuntu Pro subscription provides access to ESM (Expanded Security Maintenance) updates for ten years, or until April 2036.
Lots more today:
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LWN ☛ Ubuntu 26.04 LTS released
Ubuntu 26.04 ("Resolute Raccoon") LTS has been released on schedule.
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Ubuntu Handbook ☛ Top Things to Do After Installed Ubuntu 26.04 LTS
Ubuntu 26.04, code-name Resolute Raccoon, was finally released! Here are some top things to do after installed the new Ubuntu desktop to make it ready for use. 1. Enable “New Documents” Context Menu option It’s been many years, GNOME still does NOT have a out-of-box graphical option to create new documents in file manager.
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Ubuntu ☛ Canonical releases Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Resolute Raccoon
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS is an exciting example of what becomes possible when a major Linux distro makes a serious, sustained commitment to memory safety. By adopting Rust across the kernel, sudo, and core system utilities, Canonical is raising the security baseline for millions of enterprise users worldwide. The Rust Foundation is proud to support the language ecosystem that makes this kind of infrastructure work possible, and we look forward to seeing Ubuntu 26.04 LTS set a new standard for production-grade Linux.
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Distro Watch ☛ Distribution Release: Ubuntu 26.04
Canonical has released Ubuntu 26.04 which is a long-term support release. This mean the distribution will receive five years of free support and an optional additional five years of paid support. Many of the key changes in the 26.04 release involve the GNOME desktop, with one significant change being to the system monitor: [...]
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Distro Watch ☛ Distribution Release: Kubuntu 26.04
The Kubuntu team have announced the release of Kubuntu 26.04 which features the KDE Plasma 6.6 desktop and version 7.0 of the Linux kernel. The project's release announcement shares details: [...]
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Ubuntu ☛ Kubuntu 26.04 LTS Resolute Raccoon Released | Kubuntu
The Kubuntu team is thrilled to announce the release of Kubuntu 26.04 LTS, codenamed “Resolute Raccoon”! As a community-driven flavour of Ubuntu, Kubuntu continues its mission to deliver the cutting-edge KDE software ecosystem on top of Ubuntu’s rock-solid foundation. This Long-Term Support release, aligned with Ubuntu’s two-year LTS cycle, brings together the freshest stable KDE software with the reliability and security users depend on for years to come.
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Distro Watch ☛ Distribution Release: Ubuntu Studio 26.04
The Ubuntu Studio team have announced a new version of their media-focused flavour of the Ubuntu family. The new version, 26.04, offers three years of support and continues the evolution path of the previous two long-term support releases: [...]
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Distro Watch ☛ Distribution Release: Ubuntu Cinnamon 26.04
The Ubuntu Cinnamon project has announced the launch of Ubuntu Cinnamon 26.04 which ships with version 6.4.13 of the Cinnamon desktop and will receive three years of security updates. The release announcement shares the highlights: [...]
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Ubuntu ☛ Ubuntu Cinnamon 26.04 "Resolute Raccoon" LTS Released! | Ubuntu Cinnamon
I am proud to announce our latest release: Ubuntu Cinnamon 26.04 Resolute Raccoon!
Ubuntu Cinnamon 26.04 comes with Cinnamon 6.4.13 and will be supported until 2029, as it is a LTS (long-term service) release. This means it will continue getting updates and bug fixes for longer than a non-LTS release. The previous LTS release, 24.04 “Noble Numbat”, will be supported for about another year to give time for users to upgrade.
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Distro Watch ☛ Distribution Release: Ubuntu Budgie 26.04
The Ubuntu Budgie project has published version 26.04 of its Ubuntu community flavour. Ubuntu Budgie 26.04 offers three years of support and makes the leap to a Wayland-only version of the Budgie desktop environment.
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Distro Watch ☛ Distribution Release: Lubuntu 26.04
The Lubuntu project has announced the launch of Lubuntu 26.04. The new long-term support release will receive security updates for three years. Lubuntu 26.04 ships with LXQt 2.3 and migrates some of its low-level program to Rust.
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It's FOSS ☛ FOSS Weekly #26.17: Ubuntu 26.04 Release, Firefox Controversy, Positive News on Age-verification and More GNU/Linux Stuff
New major releases from Ubuntu and Fedora.
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Ubuntu 26.04 delivers significant graphics performance gains on the AMD Strix Point – Pure software improvement, not new hardware
Sometimes the best kind of hardware news is the kind that doesn’t require you to buy anything new. In the case of AMD Strix Point, a recent Linux benchmark suggests exactly that: Benchmarks from Phoronix show that a near-final pre-release version of Ubuntu 26.04 LTS running on an ASUS Zenbook S16 with a Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and Radeon 890M performs significantly faster in some cases than Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS with the HWE stack—particularly in areas where RDNA 3.5 shines: in graphics, including Vulkan ray tracing. This is remarkable because the hardware remains the same. Only the software stack has changed.
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Paul Thurrott ☛ Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Resolute Raccoon is Here
Canonical today announced the release of Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Resolute Raccoon, the latest version of its long-term supported Linux distribution.
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Dev Ukraine ☛ Canonical releases Ubuntu 26.04 LTS with five years of support and updated GNOME
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, a new version of the most popular Linux distribution with long-term support, will be released on April 23. The system will receive an updated kernel, GNOME 50, and changes to graphics and the file system.
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ZDNet ☛ Built for a hostile internet: Canonical VP of Engineering on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS [Ed: They are idolising a youngster from the British Army who sabotages Ubuntu under the false guise of 'security']
Canonical's new Ubuntu 26.04 Long Term Support (LTS), which arrives on April 23, 2026, isn't trying to be flashy for its own sake. This version is trying to be hard to break, easy to trust, and modern enough to matter for the next decade and a half. At a media briefing ahead of the launch, Jon Seager, Canonical's VP of engineering for Ubuntu Linux, framed this release around a single word: resilience.
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STH ☛ Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Moving the Industry forward with Linux 7.0 and More [Ed: This may be LLM slop]
Ubuntu Insights:
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Canonical releases Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Resolute Raccoon
Today Canonical announced the release of Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, codenamed “Resolute Raccoon,” available to download and install from ubuntu.com/download.
Resolute Raccoon builds on the resilience-focused improvements introduced in interim releases, with TPM-backed full-disk encryption, improved support for application permission prompting, Livepatch updates for Arm®– based servers, and Rust-based utilities for enhanced memory safety. This release brings native support for industry-leading AI/ML toolkits like NVIDIA CUDA and AMD ROCm, making Ubuntu 26.04 LTS the ideal platform for AI development and production workloads.
Planet KDE:
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Kubuntu Resolute Raccoon 26.04 release with bonus snaps
A heartfelt thank you to the Kubuntu team — this release represents countless hours of volunteer work across packaging, testing, bug triage, documentation, and community support. None of this happens without you.
And a special thank you to KFocus — their continued investment in the Kubuntu ecosystem, from hardware support to theme work to testing, makes a real and tangible difference to the quality of every release. It is very much appreciated.
Hackster.io:
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Canonical Launches Ubuntu 26.04 LTS "Resolute Raccoon," Its Latest Long-Term Support Linux Distro - Hackster.io
Canonical has announced the release of the latest long-term support (LTS) version of its Debian-derived Ubuntu Linux distribution: Ubuntu 26.04 LTS "Resolute Raccoon."
"Ubuntu 26.04 LTS sets the example for providing best-in-class resilience while simultaneously embracing innovation and the advancement of open source," claims Canonical's vice-president of Ubuntu engineering Jon Seager of the new release, which follows the company's usual cadence. "By combining optimizations for silicon, the kernel, and the cloud with the latest upstream features, we're delivering on our goal to bring the very best of open source to Ubuntu on whichever platform you choose."
GamingOnLinux:
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Ubuntu 26.04 ('Resolute Raccoon') LTS is out now | GamingOnLinux
The next major version of Ubuntu Linux has been released, with Ubuntu 26.04 ("Resolute Raccoon") now available as a long-term support release. It will be supported until at least April 2031. So you're good to go on using this as a daily-driver on your PC for a long time.
What's new for you will depend on what version of Ubuntu you've been using. Between the last LTS and this one, there's masses new and improved. Even if you were using the previous interim release, there's still lots to look forward to.
The Register:
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Ubuntu Resolute Raccoon drops Xorg, keeps X11 apps alive
Ubuntu 26.04 "Resolute Raccoon," the latest LTS release from Canonical, arrives with GNOME 50, Linux kernel 7.0, and drops the Xorg option from Ubuntu Desktop while still running X11 applications through Xwayland.
This release is based on kernel 7.0, uses GNOME 50, and comes with Firefox 150. These are a pleasingly round set of version numbers, but over Resolute's support lifetime, its Firefox versions will keep climbing, and as interim releases follow, the LTS Enablement Stack will also make newer kernels available. (systemd 260 arrived a little too late, so Resolute comes with systemd 259.) As the newest LTS version, Resolute will get free updates for the next five years, until 2031, and a further decade of security updates is available via Canonical's "Ubuntu Pro" service, which became free for up to five machines in 2022.
Mostly distrowatch links:
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OSTechNix ☛ Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Released: Everything You Need to Know
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, code-named "Resolute Raccoon", officially released on April 23, 2026. If you run a desktop, a server, or a cloud workload on Ubuntu, this release is packed with many feature improvements and software updates.
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Resolute Raccoon brings faster updates, stronger security, a fresher look, and smarter tools. Moreover, as a Long-Term Support (LTS) release, it comes with five years of free security maintenance and up to 10–15 years with Ubuntu Pro.
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Ubuntu ☛ Ubuntu 26.04 LTS release notes - Ubuntu release notes
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS is designated as a long-term support release. This means it will continue to receive security updates and critical bug fixes for five years. Ubuntu 26.04 LTS will be supported until April 2031.
With an Ubuntu Pro subscription, access to ESM (Expanded Security Maintenance) updates will be available for ten years.
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Distro Watch ☛ Distribution Release: Ubuntu Unity 26.04
The Ubuntu Unity project has published a new release, Ubuntu Unity 26.04. Unlike other members of the Ubuntu community editions, which made 26.04 a long-term support release, Ubuntu Unity is treating this version as a regular release. [...]
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Distro Watch ☛ Distribution Release: Edubuntu 26.04
Edubuntu is a community flavour of Ubuntu designed for classroom use. The project's latest version, 26.04, includes entirely new administrative tools. The release announcement shares: [...]
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Distro Watch ☛ Distribution Release: Xubuntu 26.04
Xubuntu, an Ubuntu variant featuring the Xfce desktop and many popular GNOME and MATE applications, has been updated to version 26.04: [...]
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Distro Watch ☛ Distribution Release: Ubuntu Kylin 26.04
The Ubuntu Kylin project has announced the release of version 26.04 of its community edition of Ubuntu which is configured for Chinese-speaking users. An English version of the release announcement states: [...]
More derivatives and picks from the news:
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FunOS 26.04 LTS
Release Date: 24 April 2026Base: Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (Resolute Raccoon) Introduction The FunOS team is proud to announce the release of FunOS 26.04 LTS, a Long Term Support version built on top of Ubuntu 26.04 LTS. This release represents a major milestone for FunOS, bringing significant improvements in security, system reliability, and modern GNU/Linux technologies.
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Ubuntu 26.04 "Resolute Raccoon" Launches With Gnome 50 and Linux 7.0
Canonical has today released Ubuntu 26.04 LTS as the company's latest update to the mainstream Linux distro. As we reported previously, Canonical has upgraded the minimum system requirements to 6 GB of RAM, but that change comes alongside a number of upgrades to the distro itself, some of which will be immediately noticeable, while others will silently improve the user experience in the background. Ubuntu users can download Ubuntu 26.04 directly from Canonical, or users of previous Ubuntu versions can simply run "do-release-upgrade -p" in their terminal.
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Canonical releases Ubuntu 26.04 LTS with a focus on enterprise
Canonical has released Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, a new long-term support version of the Ubuntu Linux distribution that prioritizes stability, security, and deployment in business environments. The release, codenamed Resolute Raccoon, follows the standard two-year cycle for LTS versions and will receive several years of support with updates and security patches.
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Ubuntu Resolute Raccoon Drops Xorg, Keeps X11 Apps [Ed: This seems like slop]
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Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Resolute Raccoon secures your future with powerful AI and memory safety
DebugPoint:
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Ubuntu 26.04 LTS: Best New Features
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS codenamed “Resolute Raccoon” released on April 23, 2026. This is the latest long-term support release that brings solid improvements in security, desktop experience, and hardware support.
This release, will be receiving updates for 15 years (five years for the general public, plus an additional 10 years for Ubuntu Pro users).
Every Ubuntu LTS is special, considering that it will be supported for longer durations and millions of devices across users and clouds will be using the base image for real world applications.
This release builds nicely on the foundation from 24.04 Noble Numbat while adding exciting modern touches. If you love stability with fresh features, you will enjoy this version.
Let’s run down the key features of this release.
Very late coverage:
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Ubuntu 26.04 LTS delivers memory-safe system tools and live patching for Arm servers - Help Net Security
Linux distributions have spent the past few years absorbing GPU vendor toolchains, Rust-based system components, and more stringent encryption defaults.
DebugPoint:
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Xubuntu 26.04 LTS: Best New Features
Xubuntu 26.04 LTS codenamed ‘Resolute Raccoon’ released on April 23, 2026. This lightweight flavour of Ubuntu brings the stable Xfce 4.20 desktop along with three years of support until April 2029. It celebrates 20 years of Xubuntu with beautiful new wallpapers and many practical improvements.
When you want speed and simplicity, Xubuntu is always a go-to distro. And this LTS version feels polished and ready for long-term use as well.
3 more:
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OSTechNix ☛ Ubuntu Plans to Land AI Features Throughout 2026
Ubuntu powers the majority of the world's AI workloads today. As artificial intelligence moves from big data centers to our personal laptops, many users feel nervous. They worry about privacy, system bloat, and losing control over their machines.
To address this, Canonical developers are now planing to make AI development safe and fast without forcing it on people who don't want it. They are taking a "principled and focused" approach that prioritises local privacy and user choice.
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The Verge ☛ Ubuntu’s AI plans have Linux users looking for a ‘kill switch’
Canonical’s plan to add AI features to Ubuntu has some users asking for “a version of Ubuntu that does not include these features,” while others say they’ll stick with older versions of the Linux distro or even switch to a different one. After Canonical’s announcement earlier this week that it’s bringing AI features to Ubuntu, replies included requests for an AI “kill switch” or a way to disable the upcoming features, and comparisons to Microsoft’s addition of AI features into Windows 11. Canonical’s VP of engineering, Jon Seager, responded on Tuesday, stating that Canonical isn’t planning to add a “global AI kill switch,” but users will be able to remove any AI features they don’t want.
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Unicorn Media ☛ How Ubuntu Plans to Add AI Without Taking Over Your PC [Ed: British spy participating in the Ponzi scheme]
Again, this all seems like destiny at work. Microsoft’s already turning virtually every piece of software it has — including Windows — over to Copilot, and even Red Hat has already built agentic capabilities into RHEL. On the desktop, Fedora’s talking about integrating AI — based on IBM’s open‑source Granite models — to serve a variety of purposes, mostly related to developers.
PCMag UK:
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Ubuntu 26.04 (Resolute Raccoon) - Review 2026 - PCMag UK
If you're unfamiliar with GNU/Linux and Ubuntu, let's step back for a moment and establish some basics. For a more in-depth history and discussion, head to our explainer on GNU/Linux.
What most people refer to as a Linux OS is actually a combination of the Linux kernel and the Unix-based GNU operating system (which recursively stands for GNU's not Unix). Today, there are many GNU/Linux distributions (distros) that comprise several distinct elements, including a kernel, a graphical user interface (GUI), a windowing system, a desktop environment, and more. Ubuntu is an example of a GNU/Linux distro. It's based on Debian (another distro) and uses a combination of open-source software, but some don't consider it fully open-source. Ubuntu uses a modified version of the Gnome desktop environment. Other desktop environments you might come across include KDE Plasma, MATE, and XFCE.
Ubuntu's name comes from an African term for a philosophy that translates to "humanity towards others." A company called Canonical maintains the project. Apart from the desktop version I discuss here, Canonical releases versions of Ubuntu for cloud, IoT, and server platforms. The UBports community now manages the development of Ubuntu Touch, an open-source mobile OS project.
Ubuntu (along with ChromeOS) is a good option if you have an older PC that can't run Windows 11. Ditto for Macs of a certain age, especially since macOS Tahoe is the last version to support Intel-based models. It's also just a worthy option if you have an independent streak or want an OS that's free of bloat and rock-solid stable. Developers and scientists are good candidates. As I discuss later, however, Ubuntu presents some challenges for mainstream users. It doesn't support some major third-party software, for instance, and may require some interaction with the command line.