How Should the Linux Kernel Handle AI-Generated Contributions?

Linux kernel maintainers "are grappling with how to integrate AI-generated contributions without compromising the project's integrity," reports WebProNews: The latest push comes from a proposal by Sasha Levin, a prominent kernel developer at NVIDIA, who has outlined guidelines for tool-generated submissions. Posted to the kernel mailing list, these guidelines aim to standardize how AI-assisted patches are handled. According to Phoronix, the v3 iteration of the proposal [posted by Intel engineer Dave Hansen] emphasizes transparency and accountability, requiring developers to disclose AI involvement in their contributions. This move reflects broader industry concerns about the quality and copyright implications of machine-generated code.

Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, has weighed in on the debate, advocating for treating AI tools no differently than traditional coding aids. As reported by heise online, Torvalds sees no need for special copyright treatment for AI contributions, stating that they should be viewed as extensions of the developer's work. This perspective aligns with the kernel's pragmatic approach to innovation. The proposal, initially put forward by Levin in July 2025, includes a 'Co-developed-by' tag for AI-assisted patches, ensuring credit and traceability. OSTechNix details how tools like GitHub Copilot and Claude are specifically addressed, with configurations to guide their use in kernel development... ZDNET warns that without official policy, AI could 'creep' into the kernel and cause chaos...

The New Stack provides insight into how AI is already assisting kernel maintainers with mundane tasks. According to The New Stack, large language models (LLMs) are being used like 'novice interns' for drudgery work, freeing up experienced developers for complex problems... The Linux kernel's approach could set precedents for other open-source projects. With AI integration accelerating, projects like those in the Linux Foundation are watching closely... Recent kernel releases, such as 6.17.7, include performance improvements that indirectly support AI applications, as noted in Linux Compatible.

Burn it with fire

[Anonymous Coward]

And then bury it under 6 feet of reinforced, prestressed concrete.

It's a Tool

[dbialac]

My experience with AI has been that it's a tool that gives you a starting point, not a fully worked out solution to your problem. This cuts across multiple fields I've used it for. You need to take the approach verifying everything. And if you don't understand the field well, don't trust until you do.

Re:It's a Tool

[AmiMoJo]

Exactly. Treat it like any other submission. If it is well written, clear, works as intended, passes all the tests, then it's good. Who or what wrote it isn't really relevant.

Re:

[postbigbang]

It's important to also view contributions against a cumulative set of bad intention, woven as iterative contributions towards a nefarious goal.

Nonetheless, some may be benign and helpful. Others may, as an aggregation, be more onerous and "bend a branch" in ways unintended by the goals of the project. This could be said of human contributions, too.

Can the dev explain how it works?

[DjangoShagnasty]

If not: bin it.

On the internet...

[greytree]

On the internet, no-one knows you're an AI.

https://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/000/427/569/bfa.jpg

AI code = Public Domain

[Kisai]

That is how it's been, Those AI tools were trained on open source/public domain content, so any contribution by AI tools must be considered released under public domain. It does not get simpler than that, and current US copyright law has already indicated that any AI created works are not eligible for copyright. So disclosing it as partially or completely AI generated = Public Domain. If at some point someone can prove that code created by a tool was pilfered from a OSS project, then you can re-disclose it

Re:

[Ostracus]

Might want to run that by a lawyer because the US isn't the world even if it acts like it.

Re:

[Valgrus Thunderaxe]

Those AI tools were trained on open source/public domain content,

So was I, but I get to chose whatever license I want for the software I write.

Re:

[phantomfive]

That is how it's been, Those AI tools were trained on open source/public domain content, so any contribution by AI tools must be considered released under public domain. It does not get simpler than that, and current US copyright law has already indicated that any AI created works are not eligible for copyright

That's not the question.

The question is whether the AI-produced code is a derivative of existing code, and the answer is still not resolved.

In some cases, the answer is a clear YES, because the code is a direct copy of something written by someone else. If something like that ends up in the kernel, it will have to be removed when someone notices.

Re:

[Meneth]

Linux has a number of rules for licences [github.com] in the kernel source tree. "Public domain" code is not mentioned. It seems implied that every contribution has some well-defined license.

AI code

[gary s]

Who is requesting the AI to generate code? that should be the submitter, not an AI bot. Who will be responsible for long term management of the code when it has issues.

Re:

[Teun]

Indeed, as long as a human bears the end responsibility there is no problem.

yes*

[ClueHammer]

(*) If it has been checked, and adds something positive to the project. Sure add it. If its unchecked AI slop the poster needs to kneed in the happy sacks till they learn to do better.

I wonder..

[Junta]

include performance improvements that indirectly support AI applications,

I wonder how the developers feel about that characterization. Now all performance improvements are subject to being attributed to motivated by AI for marketing points...

AI vs GPL?

[Predius]

So, in the US machine generated content isn't eligible for copyright. What does that do to a project under GPL or other licenses? Does the license become unenforceable once a certain threshold of non-copyrightable content is in the project?