The creator of Linux states that those who do not accept artificial intelligence in kernel development can fork or leave. The controversy erupts over Sashiko, a tool that detects 53.6% of bugs with a 20% false positive rate.
Linus Torvalds has broken his silence on artificial intelligence in the development of the Linux kernel. The creator of the operating system has made it clear that those who disagree with the use of AI can fork or leave. The statement, made on the official kernel mailing list, comes amid an intense debate over the integration of automated tools into the workflow.
The trigger: Sashiko and its false positives
The controversy revolves around Sashiko, an AI code review system that has been tested on the kernel. According to its developers, the tool is capable of identifying 53.6% of errors that are then corrected by human developers in new versions. However, around 20% of its alerts are false positives, which creates noise and overwhelms maintenance teams.
The debate has pitted traditional developers, who defend the purity of community development, against those who see AI as an inevitable step. The discussion has intensified this week on the kernel mailing list, with engineers from around the world sharing their opinions on whether to allow AI to review or even write code.
Linux is not one of those anti-AI projects, and if someone has a problem with that, they can do what open source does and fork it. Or just leave.
The risk of a fork for the Spanish industry
The real possibility of a fork—a parallel version of the kernel—introduces a risk factor for the entire industry. Linux is the backbone of public cloud, supercomputers, and embedded systems. In Spain, it is present in 100% of supercomputers, including the MareNostrum at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, and in most data centers of Telefónica Tech, CaixaBank, or Inditex.
A fragmentation of the kernel would slow down security updates and complicate regulatory compliance in regulated sectors such as finance or telecommunications. With regulations like DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act) already in force in the European Union, any delay in fixing vulnerabilities translates into compliance risks and potential fines.
For Spanish companies, Torvalds' stance is firm, but the community must demonstrate that AI improves the kernel without eroding trust. Telefónica's migration to Linux platforms in the early 2000s was a milestone that consolidated the system in the Spanish business fabric, and now uncertainty looms over its stability.
What does it mean for developers and companies?
For developers working with Linux, Torvalds' decision implies that AI is not optional, but part of the future of the kernel. Those who oppose it will have to decide whether to adapt or seek alternatives. For companies, the message is clear: innovation will not stop for ideological reasons, but they must monitor the quality of AI-generated code.
The practical angle is that, in the short term, development teams will have to coexist with tools like Sashiko, filtering out false positives. In the long term, the potential fragmentation of the kernel could affect the cadence of security patches, which is critical in an environment where cybersecurity is a priority.
The Linux community is facing a defining moment. Torvalds has paved the way: AI is here to stay, and those who do not accept it should fork. The decision is now in the hands of the developers and companies that depend on this operating system.
You may also like
