JetBrains bows to user pressure and unbundles AI Assistant in new IntelliJ IDEA beta

JetBrains bows to user pressure and unbundles AI Assistant in new IntelliJ IDEA beta

JetBrains has responded to user feedback by separating its AI Assistant from the IntelliJ IDEA IDE in the latest beta version, IntelliJ IDEA 2024.1. The AI coding service, introduced in December, faced criticism as it was installed by default and challenging to remove.

Concerns were raised about the IDE sending prompts to the LLM provider when using AI-powered features, collecting context information such as code snippets, file types, and frameworks. While JetBrains assured that no data would be sent without explicit user consent, the uninstallation difficulty remained a significant issue.



The recent beta release resolves this problem by unbundling the AI Assistant, offering it as a separate plugin described as "freemium." However, the value for non-paying users remains unclear, as the FAQ only mentions a seven-day trial.

User reviews for the AI Assistant have been negative, with comments highlighting issues such as misinterpretation of library functionality and a poor overall experience, especially in large JS/TS projects.

The IntelliJ IDEA 2024.1 beta brings additional features beyond AI Assistant separation. Java 22 support is included, coinciding with the upcoming release of the Java Development Kit on March 19th. Other enhancements include a new terminal window with code completion for commands, a refreshed color scheme, sticky lines in the editor for improved code structure visibility during scrolling, and full-line code completion for Java based on context.

It's important to note that the machine learning plugins responsible for full-line code completion are distinct from the AI Assistant. These plugins use on-device models, do not transmit data externally, and are part of the existing subscription, as clarified by JetBrains developer advocate Matt Ellis.