Linux Creator Plants Foot on AI: Linux kernel is not an anti-AI project

What happened

Linus Torvalds on July 15, 2026 sent a message to the Linux kernel mailing list declaring that Linux is not an "anti-AI project." Developers who object to AI use in kernel development can fork the code or walk away.

Context and impact

Torvalds' position has shifted dramatically from 2024, when he dismissed 90% of AI as hype. He now calls AI "a clearly useful tool whose utility is no longer in question." The decision will influence thousands of open-source projects that follow the Linux kernel's precedent.

Details

• "Linux is not one of those anti-AI projects" — Torvalds on kernel mailing list
• Developers can use AI — those who disagree should fork
• AI-generated bug reports are genuinely valuable, per senior maintainer Greg KH
• Torvalds: solution is not avoiding AI but better tooling for AI PR review
• Attitude shift: 2024 — "90% of AI is hype"; 2026 — "AI is clearly useful"