Linux creator Linus Torvalds puts foot down on anti-AI comments https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/07/linux-creator-linus-torvalds-puts-foot-down-on-anti-ai-comments/

[enthalpiste@social.sciences.re]

@gamingonlinux The fact that Linus considers usefulness of AI assistant as demonstrated and out of the question is the divergence point he has with actual critics from the industry.

I think he's in this "I haven't coded in years" zone and sees it as a way to stay in the loop. Is it really? I'm not sure.

Edit: Small typo.

[mehdi_benadel@mastodon.balamb.fr]

@gamingonlinux My biggest concern with his statement is not even on his pro-AI stance, but that he stated Linux is not some kind of a "Social Warrior" project. I think using reactionary takes to explain his stance is a tipping point. Open source has always been about making sure everyone has access to code and software, and if he thinks otherwise for linux or that it's too political, then he shall not stay maintainer.

[mrfantome@mastodon.sdf.org]

@gamingonlinux Sure I will just fork it because maintaining a fork of the Linux kernel is easy. This is yet again one of the worse interpersonal response a maintainer could come up with. If you believe in AI you can just say it it's okay. Just do not pretend it is better because you have used it and your personal experience makes you think so.

[phf@mastodon.de]

@gamingonlinux "In the kernel community we do open source because it results in better technology, not because of religious reasons." And that perfectly summarizes his own religious convictions. Technological totalitarianism, consequences be damned. Sadly the man has become a worse asshole now in these "AI" days than he ever was before he took "anger management" classes. What a jerk.

[phf@mastodon.de]

@gamingonlinux For reference, and so that the Linus-heads out there can make fun of me, I am running Debian 10 with a 5.15.85 kernel just to be sure I am slop-free.

[foolishowl@social.coop]

@gamingonlinux I'm going to have to think hard about migrating to one of the BSDs.

I'm worried there will soon be nothing left to save.

[rl_dane@polymaths.social]

@phf @gamingonlinux

Pragmatism doth make strumpets of us all.

[phf@mastodon.de]

@rl_dane Well, before long I am certain he will remove ThinkPad support and old Intel wifi drivers and all the stuff I need to keep my ThinkPads running anyway. So no big loss to be stuck with an old kernel that actually still supports those "ancient museum pieces" to paraphrase some of his other rants. Just too bad that it doesn't help to hope he retires soon because I am sure worse people will follow. Linux is literally just a corporate crap-shoot now.

[kwazekwaze@mastodon.social]

@gamingonlinux
Okay, let's get you back to the home, old man, that's enough ass showing for one day.

Yes, claudette will be there, don't worry.

[mpwg@fedi.at]

@gamingonlinux Ai is a tool. It all depends on how it’s used.

[justinderrick@mstdn.ca]

@gamingonlinux This sounds like a defensible position until someone sues the team for copyright infringement because something they wrote got barfed out of an LLM prompt and merged into the Linux kernel.

If this sounds ridiculous, consider that the SCO lawsuit is in the process of being revived and relitigated… again.

Even if it isn’t successful, it’s a costly distraction (both in money and attention) from “the tech” that Linus is concerned about.

[jakubzet@mastodon.social]

@gamingonlinux Really sad to read this... At least it looks like Linus and NVIDIA may love each other again now...

[zenheathen@beige.party]

@gamingonlinux

[gryphonmyers@mastodon.social]

@ozzelot @gamingonlinux I think this is actually a new level of shitty from Linus. He was kind of trying to come across as a centrist before but now he's making it very clear he is a booster.

[elvisish@mastodon.gamedev.place]

@Enthalpiste @gamingonlinux Tim Sweeney does this too, he hasn’t coded in years after delegating all his coding responsibilities, now talks endlessly about how “useful” AI is

[elvisish@mastodon.gamedev.place]

@mpwg @gamingonlinux bot

[ozzelot@mstdn.social]

@gryphonmyers @gamingonlinux i've long perceived centrism as just helping the greater evil in perhaps a slower way (not just in ai)

[teflontrout@beige.party]

@gamingonlinux

Fine. I'll come out and just say it.

Linus Torvalds was once a fantastic programmer, but he has always been a fucking asshole.

The only difference now is that he is a fucking STUPID asshole.

[witchgirls@woof.tech]

@chronohart Linux has fallen to slop ages ago. There's really not a lot you can do. Most BSDs (and the only usable one for desktop is FreeBSD as far as I know anyways) I'm pretty sure have an open LLM policy.

As someone who struggled with this too, don't worry too much about things you can't control. Scrap the things you can scrap, and the things you can't scrap, be vocal about them and try to not give them any money. That's about all we can do.

[raster@retro-gaiden.com]

@gamingonlinux If AIs are ready, maybe he should specify which, because Gemini and ChatGPT are still hallucinating badly also with some basic searches that they hinders you more than the help.

It's one of those times when I think FreeBSD has better judgment in some choices, despite the OS lags behind in some areas for lack of devs.
They are looking how use AI, yes, but they are taking more time about evaluating where they works for and what avoid about, and are a lot more conservative.