Debian developers have voted to permit the use of generative AI tools in contributions to the Linux distribution, rejecting alternative proposals that would have imposed a ban. The new policy states that AI-assisted work is "neither exempt from nor subject to special rules beyond the standards already expected of Debian contributors," meaning it must meet the same bar as any other submission. The decision has proved divisive, with some contributors criticising the move; one has said they are quitting the project entirely over it, echoing backlash Canonical faced earlier this year over its own AI stance.

Under the policy, contributors are not required to disclose when they have used AI tools, though Debian says it encourages such disclosure. Responsibility for quality, correctness, maintainability and legal compliance remains firmly with the human contributor, who is expected to understand, review, test and modify AI-assisted output before it is incorporated. Debian explicitly warns that "blindly accepting or uploading AI-generated material without appropriate human review is inconsistent with Debian's established development practices."