Torvalds Tells Anti-AI Linux Developers to Fork It as Kernel Maintainers Back LLM Use
Updated
Updated · ZDNet · Jul 16
Torvalds Tells Anti-AI Linux Developers to Fork It as Kernel Maintainers Back LLM Use
3 articles · Updated · ZDNet · Jul 16
Summary
Linus Torvalds said developers who oppose AI in Linux kernel work can "fork it," adding he will "very loudly ignore" efforts to stop others from using the tools.
The clash was triggered by discussion of the Software Freedom Conservancy's recent AI guidance, which urged open-source projects to support contributors who reject LLM-backed systems.
Torvalds argued AI's usefulness is no longer in doubt, calling it a standard tool for programming and maintenance even if it can still create pain for maintainers.
Greg Kroah-Hartman said low-quality "AI slop" security reports seen months ago have given way to good, real AI-assisted submissions, while Theodore Ts'o and James Bottomley rejected letting contributors dictate maintainers' tools.
The dispute underscores a broader shift in Linux governance: maintainers say technical merit, not ideological resistance to new tools, will decide whether AI remains embedded in kernel development.
Linus Torvalds champions AI for its technical merit, but what happens when this clashes with the core principles of software freedom?
As AI floods projects with contributions, how can open-source maintainers avoid being overwhelmed by the new 'social burden'?
With AI finding bugs like 'Dirty Frag' daily, are our digital systems becoming more secure or just more transparently vulnerable?
53% of Missed Bugs Detected by AI: Linux Kernel Embraces Sashiko, Torvalds Dismisses Anti-AI Push
Overview
In July 2026, Linus Torvalds firmly rejected calls to ban or restrict AI in Linux kernel development, responding to heated debates within the community about the impact of AI tools like Sashiko. As Sashiko became more widely used, its integration with Patchwork led to pushback from some developers, who worried that automation by large language models could harm the kernel’s culture and increase the workload for maintainers. Despite these concerns and references to broader anti-AI recommendations, Torvalds emphasized that the focus should remain on the quality of contributions, not their AI origin, setting a clear direction for the project.