Linus Torvalds commented on the attempts to discuss a ban on the use of AI tools in the development of the Linux kernel. The official stance is that the Linux kernel, as a project, does not oppose the use of AI. AI is viewed as a tool that simplifies working with code, just like any other tools. The use of AI is a personal choice for each developer, and the quality of the code, not the tools used to create it, is the factor considered when accepting changes.
For those dissatisfied with such a policy or trying to impose a ban on the use of AI tools on others, Linus recommended creating their own fork of the kernel or stopping participation in development. In Linus's opinion, a year ago, the use of AI in development might have raised questions, but now the benefits of AI have become clear, and only those who have not used modern AI tools can deny this. No one in the kernel developer community forces others to use AI, but attempts to prevent others from using AI will be curtailed.
The use of AI can create problems, such as increasing the burden on maintainers and revealing unpleasant bugs, but according to Linus, the solution is not to bury one’s head in the sand but to enable AI tools, like Sashiko, to assist maintainers. Modern AI reports often surpass traditional tools like checkpatch in quality and flexibility, and they detect non-trivial errors.
The Linux kernel remains a technical project, and related decisions are made based on technical merits, not fear of the new. The kernel is not a social justice warriors' project, has never been, and will never become one. The social aspect of working on open source is seen as an important and motivating part of the project, but rather as a side effect than the purpose of the project's existence. The kernel evolves as an open project not for religious reasons but because this model leads to the creation of better technologies.
Continuing the discussion, Linus advised against imposing one’s ethical norms on others and compared the use of AI to vegetarianism — among kernel developers, there are vegetarians with various reasons for not eating meat (social, religious, ethical, taste), but they do not expect all other developers to become vegetarians due to their personal stance. The acceptance of AI is the same.
AI-nin etikaya dair müzakirələr yürütməyə çalışanlara Linus, etikalarını şəxsi həyatlarında saxlamağı tövsiyə etdi və başqalarına bunları zorla qəbul etdirməmələrini bildirdi. Etika mövzusunu inkişaf etdirərkən Linus, nüvənin inkişaf etdirici icmasının Açıq Mənbə Fonduna olan münasibətini də qeyd etdi, çünki onların da etik səbəbləri var və bu, onların silahı kimi istifadə olunur. Məhz buna görə də Linux, GNU/Linux deyil, və nüvə inkişaf etdirici icması
Mənbə: opennet.ru
