Debian Project to Allow Responsible Use of Generative AI

The Debian Project held a vote on whether to allow the use of AI. Using a Condorcet voting method with nine options, the final result was a victory for option five, "Responsible Use of Generative AI." The Debian Project stated that it neither opposes nor supports the use of generative AI tools in the development and maintenance of software, packages, documentation, and more.

However, the project also recognizes that if AI tools are used responsibly, they can significantly improve contributor efficiency, allowing them to devote their limited time to work that requires technical expertise, judgment, review, and collaboration. Whether or not generative AI tools are used, the Debian Project expects submitted content to meet the same standards of quality, correctness, maintainability, and legal compliance. The use of generative AI tools does not diminish responsibility.

For submitted content, contributors should understand, review, and test AI-assisted outputs, making modifications where appropriate. Blindly accepting or uploading AI-generated materials without proper human review is inconsistent with Debian's established development practices. Debian encourages contributors to disclose whether their contributions used AI assistance, but it is not mandatory.

Debian acknowledges that the legal status of materials generated by generative AI systems is disputed in many jurisdictions, including issues of copyright, authorship, licensing, and potential copying of training materials. The Debian Project does not seek to resolve these unresolved legal issues through this general resolution, nor does it take a position on whether AI-generated outputs are entirely or partially copyrightable or whether they are derived from copyrighted works.