Linus Torvalds calls AI a "gateway drug" into programming, but warns against using it for "serious" work

Speaking at the Open Source Summit in Prague, Linux founder Linus Torvalds called AI a useful tool that lowers the barrier to entry for new programmers. He cautioned against relying on it for serious work and complained that a flood of AI-generated vulnerability reports has made the Linux security mailing list almost unmanageable.

• Torvalds: AI is a "gateway drug" and a way to write really good code
• He advises beginners to start with "toy" projects, not serious work
• AI-generated vulnerability reports have made the Linux security list almost unmanageable
• Three quarters of maintainer summit talks focused on reducing AI-related stress