Debian votes to allow "responsible use of generative AI" • Hacker News Board

Re: Debian votes to allow "responsible use of generative AI"

#511

Post by account42 » Tue, Sep 01, 2026, 1:55 PM UTC

Loughla wrote: post #273

bfgeek wrote: post #263

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The issue that open source projects are facing at the moment is that it takes significantly less effort to submit a patch for review. A lot of developers who are submitting these AI patches don't necessarily understand the patch, so the onus is on the reviewer/code-owner. The reviewers are getting swamped (some reviewers are receiving 100s or patches per month). If feedback is provided at lot of the time the patch au…

The question becomes, does it take more time to create or review in the Grand scheme of the software life cycle? Because if it's still a time saver, even with the increased review load, then it's a win, correct? I'm not a coder so I have zero idea. Thoughts?

Even before automation, most first time PRs were a negative time contribution to the project. The only value of them was that some contributors would become trusted project members.

Re: Debian votes to allow "responsible use of generative AI"

#512

Post by account42 » Tue, Sep 01, 2026, 2:13 PM UTC

iamnothere wrote: post #421

KennyBlanken wrote: post #218

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Some groups don’t care about the quality and object on moral or copyright grounds. Precisely why Debian Project's decision is both baffling and infuriating. I hope Debian forks over this. They have severely lost their way.

Debian is a democracy; this policy is the result of a vote. A majority of contributors found it acceptable.

Thus the "They have severely lost their way".

Re: Debian votes to allow "responsible use of generative AI"

#513

Post by account42 » Tue, Sep 01, 2026, 2:37 PM UTC

ravenstine wrote: post #121

rfgplk wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Copyright Literally irrelevant and I have no idea why people even bring this up constantly. Copyright is practically unenforceable in the software world, when was the last time you saw someone (a company or an individual) actually sue _and win_? Apple wasn't capable of stopping all the other phone manufacturers from directly cloning their product (despite having patents & copyright) so how can an individual? The on…

Software is one of the most derivative types of works ever invented. It's arguably based on copying what other people have already created. The modern world would look a lot more primitive if this wasn't the case. Corporations like Coca-Cola long ago figured out that begging people not to steal your ideas is a waste of time. If you don't want people using your ideas, then don't share them. Dunno why so many programme…

Coca-Cola literally shares their idea in every bottle they sell. The recipe being locked up in some super secure vault is a marketing gimmick and and has not relevance on anyone else being able to create clones of their drinks.

Re: Debian votes to allow "responsible use of generative AI"

#514

Post by account42 » Tue, Sep 01, 2026, 3:02 PM UTC

phyzix5761 wrote: post #174

sph wrote: post #132

On a similar note, is there any distro that explicitly has banned usage of generative AI for their project? Asking for a friend.

The problem is you can't prove if AI was used or not so Debian's response is actually the most logical one. If anyone uses AI they're still responsible for what they submit.

Not being able to always prove that something wasn't done isn't a good argument no to make it clear that doing something you find unacceptable is in fact not acceptable.

Re: Debian votes to allow "responsible use of generative AI"

#515

Post by account42 » Tue, Sep 01, 2026, 3:09 PM UTC

b40d-48b2-979e wrote: post #72

ghostDancer wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is HN you will be voted to death by the local for talking against the AI or the last tech invention.

Good thing votes don't matter but the mob continues to be full of real idiots.

Votes unfortunately do matter in the sense that few people will see a [dead] comment like ggp.