Linus Torvalds to critics of AI coding in Linux: "Fork it. Or just walk away."
What's happening
Linus Torvalds, as top-level maintainer of Linux, told critics to stop attacking people who use AI tools, saying Linux is not an "anti-AI" project and that AI is a tool like any other. He said if people object they can "fork it. Or just walk away," and that he will "very loudly ignore" calls for a ban on AI tools. Torvalds framed AI as clearly useful even if some dislike it.
Why it's trending
A high-profile maintainer publicly rejected calls to ban AI in Linux, pushing back on a growing debate about AI-assisted coding in open source.
SignalNewly emerging, confirmed across 3 independent source types.
Story volume
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If you want Linux to be anti-AI, Linus Torvalds just handed you the roadmap: fork it and prove your point, but don't expect the main tree to change its mind anytime soon.
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Original sources4
- Linus Torvalds to critics of AI coding in Linux: "Fork it. Or just walk away."
Creator says he will "very loudly ignore" those arguing for a ban on AI tools.
Ars Technica AIJul 16 - Linus Torvalds "Linux is not one of those anti-AI projects"HackerNewsJul 15
- Linus Torvalds tells AI haters to fork offHackerNewsJul 15
- Linus Torvalds tells people to stop attacking others for using AI
The full quote: I realize that some people really dislike AI, but this is an area where I'm willing to absolutely put my foot down as the top-level maintainer. Linux is not one of those anti-AI projects, and if somebody has issues with that, they can do the open-source thing and fork it. Or just walk away. AI is a tool, just like other tools we use. And it's clearly a useful one. It may not have b
r/LocalLLaMAJul 15
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