Linus Torvalds, the principal creator of the Linux kernel, has firmly stated that the Linux project will not adopt an anti-artificial intelligence stance. In response to discussions regarding Sashiko, an agentic system for reviewing Linux kernel code, Torvalds declared, "Linux is not one of those anti-AI projects."
Torvalds, acting as the top-level maintainer, outlined that developers and users who oppose the project's use of AI are free to "fork their distro or just walk away." He emphasized that AI should be viewed as a tool, asserting its utility has become undeniable. While acknowledging that AI can present challenges, including potential duplication of bug reports and a strain on maintainer workloads, Torvalds indicated a willingness to integrate it, similar to approaches taken by Microsoft and Mozilla.
This stance represents a shift from Torvalds's earlier sentiments. In May, he lamented the time wasted by the Linux team dealing with AI-generated bug reports, noting that the "continued flood of AI reports has basically made the security list almost entirely unmanageable." Previously, at the Open Source Summit in 2024, Torvalds described AI as being "90 per cent marketing and ten per cent reality" and suggested waiting a decade to assess its true impact. However, his recent remarks indicate a change in perspective, suggesting that the wait has concluded.
Torvalds also addressed the imperfections of AI, stating, "anybody who points to the problems at AI had better be looking in the mirror and pointing at themselves at the same time. Because it's not like natural intelligence is always all that great either."
He reiterated that the kernel project prioritizes technological merit above all else. "We make decisions primarily based on technical merit. Not fear of new tools," Torvalds concluded, reinforcing his commitment to evaluating new technologies objectively without succumbing to apprehension.