Linux kernel drops mandatory AI tool usage disclosure

The Linux kernel community agreed to deprecate the Assisted-by tag that required contributors to disclose AI tool usage in patches. Linus Torvalds backed the removal, arguing that understanding the code matters more than the tools used.

• Maintainers Summit reached consensus to deprecate the Assisted-by tag
• The rule entered documentation in January 2026 after a July 2025 proposal
• Torvalds called AI disclosure rules "stupid"
• Some maintainers, including Laurent Pinchart, opposed removing the tag