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[ARTICLE · art-62127] src=simonwillison.net ↗ pub= topic=generative-ai verified=true sentiment=↑ positive

Quoting Linus Torvalds

Linux creator Linus Torvalds declared that the Linux kernel project is not anti-AI and that AI is a useful tool, dismissing critics who question its utility. Torvalds stated that those who disagree can fork the project or walk away, emphasizing that AI's usefulness is no longer in doubt.

read1 min views1 publishedJul 16, 2026

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 been that "clearly" even just a year ago, but it's no longer in question today.

There are other questions around AI (like what the economy of it will actually look like in the end), but "is it useful" is no longer one of those questions. Anybody who doubts that clearly hasn't actually used it.

— [Linus Torvalds](https://lore.kernel.org/linux-media/CAHk-=wi4zC+Ze8e+p3tMv8TtG_80KzsZ1syL9anBtmEh5Z40vg@mail.gmail.com/), Linux Media Mailing List

Tags: [open-source](https://simonwillison.net/tags/open-source), [linus-torvalds](https://simonwillison.net/tags/linus-torvalds), [linux](https://simonwillison.net/tags/linux), [generative-ai](https://simonwillison.net/tags/generative-ai), [ai](https://simonwillison.net/tags/ai), [llms](https://simonwillison.net/tags/llms)
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