Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, recently sat down for a “keynote interview” at the Linux Foundation’s Open Source Summit North America in Seattle. He was interviewed by Dirk Hohndel, an early Linux contributor and currently the head of Verizon’s Open Source program office.
Torvalds emphasized the importance of trust in open source development, noting that even proprietary software relies on trust within the company. He also discussed the recent xz Util exploit and how it serves as a reminder that security issues can come from the community of maintainers.
Torvalds also touched on the topic of AI, acknowledging that while AI has the potential to eliminate certain jobs, it can also be beneficial in coding tools. He admitted that he was initially skeptical about AI, but has since come to appreciate its potential.
In terms of open source development, Torvalds emphasized the importance of equal rights and the ability to find developers with a crucial attribute for success. He also discussed the sustainability of open source development, noting that corporate users have been able to profit off open source projects without contributing back to the community. However, Torvalds believes that Linux has consciously welcomed corporate users, avoiding the almost religious overtones of the Free Software Foundation.
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