Linus Torvalds describes AI as a "tireless helper" in Linux kernel debugging session

Linus Torvalds, creator of the Linux kernel, publicly described an AI tool as a "tireless helper" during a difficult debugging session. In a Git commit message for the Linux kernel's drm/xe subsystem, Torvalds recounted how an AI assisted with a complex debugging task that he characterized as a "debug session from hell."

The AI repeatedly told Torvalds the problem was "impossible and unsolvable," advising him to write a report instead of pursuing a fix. Despite these pessimistic assessments, the AI continued to add debug code and perform analyses when Torvalds persisted. Torvalds attributed the AI's tendency to give up to training on data from less stubborn users.

Ultimately, Torvalds credited the AI for its contributions and allowed it to draft the commit message for the fix. The quote was collected and published by Simon Willison on his weblog on August 22, 2026, with a direct link to the original commit in the Linux kernel repository.