Linus Torvalds on Linux’s Future: Rust, AI, and the Human Cost of Kernel Maintenance

At a recent open‑source summit in Japan, Linus Torvalds and Verizon Open Source lead Dirk Hohndel talked about the state of Linux.

They discussed the upcoming Linux kernel version 6.7, noting that Torvalds released the fourth release candidate before flying to Tokyo and that the final release is expected around Christmas.

Torvalds expressed a desire to avoid a "Christmas‑time merge window" because it would ruin his holidays, and the community is waiting to ensure no shocking issues arise.

About Linux maintenance

Hohndel raised the issue of kernel maintainer fatigue and stress. Torvalds agreed, saying that while many developers are available, the role of maintainer requires taste in reviewing code, which can be learned through practice.

He emphasized that good maintainers need to judge whether a method is good or bad, a skill developed over years, and that collaboration among maintainers can be challenging when they have different goals.

Code is easy, relationships are hard

Torvalds noted that writing code is straightforward, but interpersonal dynamics, especially between developers and maintainers with differing priorities, can be stressful.

He reflected on his own past temperament, saying he softened after stepping away from kernel work in 2018 and returning with a calmer attitude.

Maintainers are not just "translators"

Torvalds argued that open‑source work involves much more than coding; communication, context, and understanding code reasons are essential, and there is still space for new maintainers.

He highlighted the aging of the kernel community, with many top developers entering their 60s and early pioneers approaching 70, making the community’s aging a double‑edged sword.

Rust in the kernel

Torvalds said he likes Rust because it attracts younger maintainers, especially in driver development, and while Rust is growing in the kernel, no core part depends on it yet. He expects Rust to become a significant component over the coming years.

Artificial intelligence in the kernel

The conversation turned to large language models (LLMs). Hohndel described AI as an auto‑correction tool that predicts the next word, and asked whether LLM‑generated code submissions would appear.

Torvalds believes AI‑generated code is already happening on a small scale, helping developers write code, and hopes AI can spot obvious, "stupid" bugs, though he is not overly concerned about AI.

He emphasized that AI can assist by warning about subtle issues and improving automatic correction, viewing it as a tool to help developers do better work.

Open source philosophy

Torvalds expressed enthusiasm for the widespread acceptance of open source, recalling how, thirty years ago, people questioned why he was doing it and how he would make money. He noted that open collaboration across companies is now the industry standard.

Hohndel praised the Linux Foundation’s role in fostering neutral, collaborative spaces beyond individual companies, and Torvalds agreed, stating his work at the Foundation reflects his desire for a neutral venue rather than a corporate one.