Kernel code removals driven by LLM-created security reports

Article

TL;DR

Linux maintainers removing unmaintained drivers after AI-generated bug reports overwhelm volunteer bandwidth.

Key Takeaways

• AX.25, ISDN, legacy ISA/PCI drivers being removed — mostly unused for 10+ years anyway
• LLMs surfacing real pre-existing vulnerabilities, but volume exceeds maintainer capacity to respond
• AI reporters aren’t fixing bugs — generating reports creates burnout without patches

Discussion

Top comments:

• [s20n]: AX.25 removal is sad; AI flood forced maintainers to move it out-of-tree for sanity
• [sscaryterry]: LLMs are just shining a light on pre-existing problems, not creating new ones
• [KJs6ZxELzQM37O]: Money flooding into AI bug-finding should also fund the people who fix them
• [Create]: If LLM reports the bug it should fix it in the same pass — nobody follows up otherwise

Discuss on HN