cmc/cleberg.net

 1#+date: [2026-07-16 Thu 12:37:35]
 2#+title: Re: Quoting Linus Torvalds
 3#+description: Discussing Linus Torvalds' thoughts on the use of AI in the Linux kernel community.
 4#+slug: re-torvalds-on-ai
 5#+filetags: :linux:ai:
 6
 7* Linus on AI
 8
 9Linus Torvalds' recent defense of AI in the Linux kernel sparked the predictable
10backlash, but the real debate is far more nuanced than that.
11
12This specific blog post is in response to [[https://simonwillison.net/search/?q=linus+torvalds&type=quotation&type_label=Quotation&sort=date][Simon Willison's]] post of the quotation
13below on his website.
14
15As Linus says in his message:
16
17#+begin_quote
18I realize that some people really dislike AI, but this is an area where I'm
19willing to absolutely put my foot down as the top-level maintainer.
20
21Linux is not one of those anti-AI projects, and if somebody has issues with
22that, they can do the open-source thing and fork it.
23
24Or just walk away.
25
26AI is a tool, just like other tools we use. And it's clearly a useful one.
27
28It may not have been that "clearly" even just a year ago, but it's no longer in
29question today.
30
31There are other questions around AI (like what the economy of it will actually
32look like in the end), but "is it useful" is no longer one of those questions.
33Anybody who doubts that clearly hasn't actually used it.
34
35— Linus Torvalds, [[https://lore.kernel.org/linux-media/CAHk-=wi4zC+Ze8e+p3tMv8TtG_80KzsZ1syL9anBtmEh5Z40vg@mail.gmail.com/][Linux Media Mailing List]]
36#+end_quote
37
38* My Thoughts
39
40...and I agree. I do understand some of the push-back from others - such as [[https://lobste.rs/s/pb6d8m/linus_torvalds_on_llm_usage_kernel][the
41commenters on lobste.rs]].
42
43However, online communities tend to drift into the extremes and hard-line their
44opinions without considering broader context.
45
46Linus is right that AI is a tool and a very useful one. The commenters are right
47that there are additional considerations, such as environmental concerns and
48social/cultural impacts, that we need to consider as we approach the usage of AI
49tools. But "AI is bad and should be banned" is neither an answer to those
50questions nor is it an informative take on the collective AI options out there,
51beside the top AI offerings.
52
53This push-back often conflates different issues and muddies the waters of the
54argument: environmental cost/impact, job displacement, corporate capture of
55open-source labor, and code quality. These are all valid concerns and absolutely
56deserve attention. But the solution isn't to bury our head in the sand and avoid
57it. The solution is a logical review of the options and clarifying your stance
58as a maintainer - write up clear contribution guidelines and code review
59standards. These steps work regardless of your stance on AI as a maintainer.
60
61The bottom line here is that AI tools exist and will not be going away.
62Developers will approach our projects with these tools, not to mention attackers
63or hackers looking to exploit open-source projects.
64
65The goal, then, is to level the playing field. How can we enable open-source
66project maintainers to effectively and efficiently maintain their projects while
67protecting both their sanity and users?
68
69Each project may approach this differently, depending on their individual values
70and concerns, but it's silly to dismiss AI outright without discussion. If a
71project's set of maintainers or community decides to ban AI, that's their right.
72But if a maintainer chooses to allow AI in some or all cases, that's also their
73choice.
74
75The reality is simple: maintainers set the rules for their projects. Some will
76embrace AI and some will outright refuse, and we should respect the rules on the
77projects we contribute to. The Linux kernel's openness to it doesn't obligate
78anyone else to accept AI. Linux is saying we get to choose when working on the
79kernel and that's worth defending. Personally, I appreciate that he's willing to
80take a stance one way or the other, rather than avoid making a statement just to
81avoid the conflict.
82
83Lastly, I know some have noted Linus's (often brusque tone) again regarding his
84"fork it or walk away" point. I'll be honest, I agree with him wholeheartedly
85here. That's the whole point of open-source. You don't have to use AI to work on
86the kernel and if you have a strict rule against being involved with projects
87that involve AI, fork it and maintain a non-AI version. Build a community around
88it if your feelings are popular with others.