Linus Torvalds Calls AI a “Gateway Drug” Into Programming, With Cautions

Linux creator and maintainer Linus Torvalds described AI as a useful way to help newcomers start programming, while cautioning against relying on it for important work without knowing the desired outcome. He spoke at the Linux Foundation’s Open Source Summit in Prague, Czechia.

Torvalds said AI can produce “really good code” and lower the barrier for junior coders and teenagers who might feel discouraged when comparing early efforts with polished professional work. He recalled that the standard for computer games was lower when he began programming, so he did not feel ashamed of his own attempts. Learning takes time, he said, and beginners need room to enjoy the process.

He recommended care when using AI on “something real and important,” saying users need to know what they want and what the result should be. He suggested starting with “toy” or personal projects before applying AI to more serious work.

Torvalds also discussed AI-generated vulnerability reports and patches. He said a flood of reports, including duplicates and issues in little-used code, has made security-list work difficult and is stressing maintainers. At a maintainer summit, he said, “three quarters” of discussions focused on making AI coding and review tools less stressful and more useful. He added that AI-generated patches can include both important security issues and issues in code that nobody has touched in 20 years. Despite the burden, he said AI was improving the codebase, and described maintainers using AI to review AI-generated patches.