Key facts
- Linus Torvalds stated he will "very loudly ignore" critics of AI coding tools in Linux.
- He asserted that Linux is not an "anti-AI project" and suggested dissenters could fork it or walk away.
- The debate occurred during discussions about an AI system for Linux kernel code review.
- Torvalds believes AI is a useful tool, comparing its imperfections to human maintainers.
- He has personally experimented with AI coding tools for hobbyist projects.
Linux creator Linus Torvalds has firmly stated his support for the use of AI coding tools within the open-source project, dismissing critics who advocate for a ban. In a message on the Linux kernel mailing list, Torvalds declared that Linux is not an "anti-AI project" and that those with objections should "fork it. Or just walk away."
Torvalds' comments came amid a discussion about Sashiko, an AI system designed to review Linux kernel code. While Sashiko's creators claim it can identify a significant percentage of bugs, it also produces false positives. One poster cited a statement from the Software Freedom Conservancy, which suggested the open-source community should support those who reject LLM-generated code.
However, Torvalds indicated he would "very loudly ignore" such arguments, emphasizing that he is not forcing anyone to use AI tools but will not tolerate opposition to others using them. He framed his position as pragmatic, based on "technical merit. Not fear of new tools," and highlighted AI's increasing utility.
Recent studies suggest a complex picture of AI's impact on developer productivity. A study from last year indicated that open-source coders using AI tools were less productive, though they felt more productive themselves. However, researchers noted that developers are likely benefiting more from AI tools in early 2026 compared to the previous year.
Torvalds also drew a parallel between the imperfections of AI and human intelligence, suggesting that critics of AI's flaws should also examine their own performance. He revealed that he has been experimenting with AI coding tools for personal projects, such as creating a Python audio visualizer.