Linux kernel drops AI-contribution disclosure rule, as Linus Torvalds says banning the tech would be 'utterly stupid'
The key thing for Torvalds is that you understand the code you submit, not how you made it.
The Linux kernel has dropped a requirement for contributors to declare the use of AI tools when submitting code. The decision comes after Linus Torvalds, the creator and lead maintainer of the Linux kernel, stated that such a rule would be "utterly stupid". Torvalds argued that the presence of AI in code creation does not inherently make the code better or worse, and that understanding the code and its functionality is more important.
He compared the idea of banning AI use in coding to restricting other, more established tools, stating that such rules would be equally nonsensical. The change was reported by The Register, and while it may not be a surprise given Torvalds' generally positive attitude towards AI in coding, the debate over AI's role in software development is likely to continue.
Written by urgent.news from PC Gamer's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- Linus Torvalds let Claude Code fix the Linux page cache. Then reviewers found a race. thenewstack.io
- Linus Torvalds posts his first AI-assisted patch to the Linux kernel, synthetic test clocks 23x performance leap tomshardware.com
- How I keep secrets and personal data out of Claude Code dev.to
- Linux kernel devs drop obligatory confession of AI tool usage theregister.com
- Linus calls banning AI-generated code "utterly stupid" as Linux submissions no longer need LLM disclosure xda-developers.com
- Linus Torvalds has started using AI to develop the Linux kernel computerworld.com
