Linus calls banning AI-generated code "utterly stupid" as Linux submissions no longer need LLM disclosure

A recent decision by Linux maintainers has sparked debate over the use of AI-generated code in the Linux kernel. Historically, projects either outright rejected or embraced this technology, resulting in a diverse mix of AI and human-written code within the Linux kernel. However, Linus Torvalds, the primary figure behind Linux, has consistently advocated for AI coding, asserting that it is here to stay and even makes programming enjoyable.

In October 2026 during the Maintainers Summit in Prague, Czechia, it was decided that Linux kernel submissions would no longer require the 'Assisted-by' tag, which was necessary when AI-generated content was used for submissions. This tag was included in the commit message to indicate the AI tools utilized, such as 'Assisted-by: LLM [TOOL1] [TOOL2]'. The removal of this disclosure requirement signifies that developers can now submit AI-generated code without needing to disclose it.

Upon learning about this change, Linus Torvalds commented on the issue via a message to the Linux mailing list. He dismissed the removal of AI disclosure as an 'utterly stupid' rule, likening it to banning compilers or text editors. Torvalds emphasized the importance of developers understanding the underlying code and the technologies they employ in their work, stating that they "need to know what they are doing".