Linus Torvalds to critics of AI coding in Linux: "Fork it. Or just walk away."

Jul 16, 2026

Linus Torvalds has dismissed calls to ban AI tools in Linux kernel development, saying he will "very loudly ignore" such critics and suggesting they fork the project or leave. His comments come amid ongoing debate about the use of AI in open-source software.

Why it matters: Torvalds' position could influence how AI-assisted coding is viewed within the open-source and developer communities.

Full story at: Ars Technica / AI ↗