Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux and manager of its kernel, has come out in support of AI-assisted coding tools in the project's development, pushing back against contributors who want them banned.
According to Tom's Hardware, Torvalds rebuked anti-AI stances in the Linux kernel code review process, declaring that "Linux is not one of those anti-AI projects." The report characterizes him as embracing AI as just a tool — and, in his words, "clearly a useful one."
His message to critics was blunt. As Ars Technica reports, Torvalds told those arguing for a ban on AI tools to "Fork it. Or just walk away," and said he would "very loudly ignore" them. ("Forking" refers to the practice of splitting off a project's code to develop it independently — a standard, if drastic, option in open-source communities when contributors disagree.)
The comments land in the middle of a broader debate playing out across software development: whether AI coding assistants belong in serious engineering work, and how to weigh their usefulness against concerns about code quality, licensing, and authorship. Some open-source communities have moved to restrict or reject AI-generated contributions outright.
That context is what makes Torvalds's position notable. The Linux kernel is one of the most widely used and closely scrutinized pieces of software in the world, powering everything from servers to Android phones. Its lead maintainer setting a permissive tone — rather than a restrictive one — sends a signal that carries weight far beyond a single project.
Why it matters: When the steward of the world's most influential open-source project frames AI as a legitimate tool rather than a threat, it helps shape how the wider software industry decides to treat AI-assisted coding.