# Linux Kernel Maintainers Establish Policy on AI-Generated Code Contributions

_Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 12:05 PM EDT · AI, Policy · Latest · Tier 1 — Major_

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Linux kernel maintainers have established a formal policy on AI-generated code contributions after months of debate among developers. The new guidelines permit the use of AI coding assistants like Copilot but place responsibility for code quality on human contributors.

Linus Torvalds and senior maintainers reached consensus on the policy following heated discussions on the Linux kernel mailing list. The rules explicitly ban low-quality "AI slop" while allowing developers to use AI tools as aids rather than replacements for human review.

Under the new policy, developers may submit AI-assisted code but must take full responsibility for any errors or security issues. The guidelines require contributors to thoroughly test and review any AI-generated contributions before submission.

The decision follows incidents where projects rejected AI-generated code contributions entirely. The Linux kernel's approach strikes a middle ground, acknowledging AI tools as productivity aids while maintaining strict quality standards for code entering the kernel.

## Sources

- [Tom's Hardware](https://www.tomshardware.com/software/linux/linux-lays-down-the-law-on-ai-generated-code-yes-to-copilot-no-to-ai-slop-and-humans-take-the-fall-for-mistakes-after-months-of-fierce-debate-torvalds-and-maintainers-come-to-an-agreement)

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Retrieved: 2026-04-21T13:28:43.419Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)