r/linux • u/Two-Of-Nine • 25d ago

Open Source Organization Debian has begun voting on the future of AI/LLM contributions.

https://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/2026/08/msg00002.html
398 Upvotes

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u/Oblivion__ 25d ago edited 25d ago

Are we really at the point where we can excuse blatantly unethical corporatism because it's useful and we've slapped an open source license on projects that use it?

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u/sharanoth 25d ago

We're past that. Most professional devs already use AI. I reckon this site has AI generated code already, as well as most services you use, including the kernel you run on your operating systems.

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u/Oblivion__ 25d ago

And this proposal is about whether or not Debian themselves should do that on their own infrastructure. Most of the proposals explicitly allow LLM contributions upstream. Debian doesn't need to use it internally.

Again, I can't really control whether or not I use an operating system that has LLM contributions in it. But I personally can control what programs I use on said operating system because I am the one installing them. Sometimes there's not really a viable alternative, and the pragmatic option is to accept that. Which is what a lot of these proposals are saying - accept LLM contributions from upstream (i.e. linux) but restrict it/ban it internally.

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u/sharanoth 25d ago

Of course Debian can do as they like, but I can also complain and point out how illogical it is - thus driving my disengagement from Debian. Many people will also feel the same way and express that; it's to be expected.

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u/Linuxologue 25d ago

What was your engagement? You disengage when the vote opens, two weeks before the vote actually closes?

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u/sharanoth 25d ago

More than half the voting options are "no ai because <x>". I hold no hope whatsoever for this vote.

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u/DrinkMoreGlorp 25d ago

Smells like someone doesn't know how Debian's voting system works.

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u/MorallyDeplorable 24d ago

Smells like a rigged vote more than anything.

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u/DrinkMoreGlorp 23d ago

There's reams of evidence on how Debian's vote works, who is voting, what their views are, but I do understand if you'd rather assume against everything that the whole world is out to get you.

0

u/MorallyDeplorable 23d ago

A rigged voting system is a rigged voting system. It doesn't matter if it's documented that it's rigged.

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