Linus Torvalds on the AI claim that makes him angry, and what security researchers should never do

Linus Torvalds and Dirk Hohndel at Open Source Summit North America 2026 sjvn/ZDNET

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ZDNET's key takeaways

Torvalds likes AI, but AI sometimes doesn't like Torvalds.

Linux's founder thinks there will always be work for programmers.

AI remains a mixed blessing when it comes to finding and fixing security bugs.

Speaking at the Linux Foundation's Open Source Summit North America, Linux creator Linus Torvalds said modern AI tools are reshaping how developers work on the kernel, driving up contribution volume and exposing new social and security stresses in the open‑source world. But he insisted "AI is a great tool, but it's a tool" rather than a wholesale replacement for programmers.

Also: 5 ways to fortify your network against the new speed of AI attacks

Now, if only the companies laying off tech workers left and right would listen.

How AI disrupted 20 years of kernel releases

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