#+date: [2026-07-16 Thu 12:37:35]
#+title: Re: Quoting Linus Torvalds
#+description: Discussing Linus Torvalds' thoughts on the use of AI in the Linux kernel community.
#+slug: re-torvalds-on-ai
#+filetags: :linux:ai:

* Linus on AI

Linus Torvalds' recent defense of AI in the Linux kernel sparked the predictable
backlash, but the real debate is far more nuanced than that.

This 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
below on his website.

As Linus says in his message:

#+begin_quote
I realize that some people really dislike AI, but this is an area where I'm
willing to absolutely put my foot down as the top-level maintainer.

Linux is not one of those anti-AI projects, and if somebody has issues with
that, they can do the open-source thing and fork it.

Or just walk away.

AI is a tool, just like other tools we use. And it's clearly a useful one.

It may not have been that "clearly" even just a year ago, but it's no longer in
question today.

There are other questions around AI (like what the economy of it will actually
look like in the end), but "is it useful" is no longer one of those questions.
Anybody who doubts that clearly hasn't actually used it.

— Linus Torvalds, [[https://lore.kernel.org/linux-media/CAHk-=wi4zC+Ze8e+p3tMv8TtG_80KzsZ1syL9anBtmEh5Z40vg@mail.gmail.com/][Linux Media Mailing List]]
#+end_quote

* My Thoughts

...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
commenters on lobste.rs]].

However, online communities tend to drift into the extremes and hard-line their
opinions without considering broader context.

Linus is right that AI is a tool and a very useful one. The commenters are right
that there are additional considerations, such as environmental concerns and
social/cultural impacts, that we need to consider as we approach the usage of AI
tools. But "AI is bad and should be banned" is neither an answer to those
questions nor is it an informative take on the collective AI options out there,
beside the top AI offerings.

This push-back often conflates different issues and muddies the waters of the
argument: environmental cost/impact, job displacement, corporate capture of
open-source labor, and code quality. These are all valid concerns and absolutely
deserve attention. But the solution isn't to bury our head in the sand and avoid
it. The solution is a logical review of the options and clarifying your stance
as a maintainer - write up clear contribution guidelines and code review
standards. These steps work regardless of your stance on AI as a maintainer.

The bottom line here is that AI tools exist and will not be going away.
Developers will approach our projects with these tools, not to mention attackers
or hackers looking to exploit open-source projects.

The goal, then, is to level the playing field. How can we enable open-source
project maintainers to effectively and efficiently maintain their projects while
protecting both their sanity and users?

Each project may approach this differently, depending on their individual values
and concerns, but it's silly to dismiss AI outright without discussion. If a
project's set of maintainers or community decides to ban AI, that's their right.
But if a maintainer chooses to allow AI in some or all cases, that's also their
choice.

The reality is simple: maintainers set the rules for their projects. Some will
embrace AI and some will outright refuse, and we should respect the rules on the
projects we contribute to. The Linux kernel's openness to it doesn't obligate
anyone else to accept AI. Linux is saying we get to choose when working on the
kernel and that's worth defending. Personally, I appreciate that he's willing to
take a stance one way or the other, rather than avoid making a statement just to
avoid the conflict.

Lastly, I know some have noted Linus's (often brusque tone) again regarding his
"fork it or walk away" point. I'll be honest, I agree with him wholeheartedly
here. That's the whole point of open-source. You don't have to use AI to work on
the kernel and if you have a strict rule against being involved with projects
that involve AI, fork it and maintain a non-AI version. Build a community around
it if your feelings are popular with others.