GoKawiilLinus Torvalds releases Linux kernel patches co-written with Anthropic's Claude Code
Linus Torvalds submitted a set of kernel patches that address a page-cache contention bug causing memory slowdowns on multi-core, multi-thread systems. In his Git submission, Torvalds said the code, test programs, review and first draft of the accompanying text were produced with Claude Code, an AI coding assistant, under his direction. The bug, known since 2024, involves atomic reference-count updates to a shared cache line that force processor cores to compete, slowing performance in workloads with many concurrent small reads.
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Torvalds' public acknowledgment that he used an AI assistant to help write kernel code marks a shift from his earlier skepticism toward AI tools, according to ZDNET's reporting on his evolving comments. This could normalize AI-assisted contributions in one of the most scrutinized and conservative open-source codebases, potentially influencing how other maintainers view AI's role in low-level systems programming. It may also set a precedent for how AI involvement is disclosed in future kernel submissions.
- Torvalds' new patches fix a long-standing page-cache contention bug affecting multi-core performance.
- Anthropic's Claude Code was used to write the code, tests, and review under Torvalds' direction.
- The move reflects Torvalds' gradual shift from AI skepticism to embracing it as a development tool.
Source: zdnet.com — Steven Vaughan-Nichols, 2026-10-13
Published there as: “Linus Torvalds is using AI to develop Linux kernel code now”
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