Yes, you can submit AI-generated or AI-assisted work to some open-source projects—but there is no universal rule. Each repository sets its own scope, disclosure method and review requirements. Before opening a pull request, check that project’s current contribution guidance, understand and test the change, and confirm that its licensing and attribution requirements are met.
What counts as AI-generated or AI-assisted work?
The terms are not used consistently. Some policies focus on substantial content created by a tool; others also ask contributors to disclose assistance used to find, test or fix a problem. Ordinary typing aids and formatting may fall outside a policy’s definition, but the boundary depends on the project.
For example, Linux kernel guidance excludes trivial spelling changes, typing aids, mechanical renaming and reformatting from its generated-content scope. It includes meaningful tool-created content such as chatbot-generated functions, assistant-generated files that a person later cleans up, and generated changelogs. It also calls for transparency about tools used to identify or test a problem addressed by a change. See the Linux kernel guidance on AI-generated content for its scope and examples.
When it is unclear whether assistance is material enough to disclose, the kernel advises choosing transparency. That is useful guidance, not a universal rule for every repository.
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Can you submit AI-generated code to an open-source project?
Often, but permission is conditional and project-specific. The Linux Foundation says AI-generated code or other content can be contributed to its projects, provided contributors account for tool terms, third-party material, project rules and employer policies. It also notes that individual projects may set their own guidance. See the Linux Foundation’s generative AI guidance.
The Apache Software Foundation (ASF) likewise says existing contributor obligations still apply when generative tools are used. Contributors must be able to grant the required rights, comply with applicable third-party license requirements and disclose non-original copyrighted material. ASF says its recommendations reflect the state of the field in August 2026 and may need revision. Read the ASF guidance on generative tooling.
These are examples, not a survey or a rulebook for all open-source projects. A foundation-level statement does not necessarily settle the requirements of a particular repository. Follow the repository’s current instructions for the contribution you are making.
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How do project policies compare?
| Guidance | Scope and permission | Disclosure | Human accountability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux Foundation | AI-generated code and other content may be contributed subject to tool terms, third-party-rights checks, project policies and employer rules. | Check the individual project’s guidance; the foundation page notes that projects may issue their own rules. | Contributors remain responsible for satisfying applicable requirements. |
| Apache Software Foundation | Existing contributor rights and licensing obligations apply to AI-assisted contributions. | Recommends recording the tool in a commit message, for example Generated-by: <Name of Tool> <Version> or Co-authored-by: <Name of Tool> <Version>. |
Contributors make representations about originality and their right to license the work. |
| Linux kernel | Its guidance distinguishes meaningful generated content from trivial or mechanical assistance and includes some tools used to identify or test a problem. | Uses a structured Assisted-by tag and calls for relevant details in cover letters or changelogs as appropriate. |
A human must review the work, provide their own sign-off and take responsibility; an AI agent cannot add Signed-off-by. |
| Open Source Robotics Foundation (OSRF) | Its policy covers generated source as well as other contribution types, with disclosure details varying by type. | Recommends provider or tool and version information in commit messages and pull-request descriptions. | Follow the applicable project instructions for the contribution type. |
OSRF explains that commit messages make provenance durable and searchable, while pull-request descriptions make it visible to reviewers. Its recommendations apply to OSRF projects; they are not a standard used by all projects. See the OSRF guidance on AI contributions.
Do you have to disclose AI assistance in a pull request?
There is no single disclosure rule or location. A project may specify a commit-message trailer, a pull-request description, a cover letter, a changelog or another place. Some guidance gives recommendations, while a repository may make a particular format mandatory. Use the target project’s stated format rather than importing a tag from another project.
Linux kernel: use the project’s attribution and sign-off process
For relevant AI assistance, kernel documentation gives this format:
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Assisted-by: AGENT_NAME:MODEL_VERSION [TOOL1] [TOOL2]
Basic tools such as git, gcc, make and editors should not be listed in that tag. Depending on the change, contributors should describe relevant tools, inputs, affected portions and testing in a cover letter or changelog. The Assisted-by tag does not replace the human submitter’s own Signed-off-by or other contribution requirements. See the kernel documentation.
Apache Software Foundation: record the tool in the commit message
ASF recommends noting the tool and version in a commit message using a format such as Generated-by: <Name of Tool> <Version> or Co-authored-by: <Name of Tool> <Version>. Check the target repository’s instructions for how to apply that recommendation to your contribution.
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OSRF: make provenance both durable and visible
OSRF recommends including the provider or tool and version in both the commit message and the pull-request description for generated source. Its policy describes different disclosure details for documentation and graphical work, so do not assume the source-code format covers every contribution type.
What does Assisted-by mean?
In Linux kernel guidance, Assisted-by is an attribution tag that identifies an AI agent, its model version and any relevant tools used. It records assistance; it is not the human certification that the contribution meets the Developer Certificate of Origin (DCO). Kernel guidance says AI agents must not add Signed-off-by, because only a human can make that certification.
Who is responsible for AI-written code?
The human who submits the contribution remains accountable. Linux kernel guidance expects that person to review the work, comply with licensing requirements, provide their own sign-off and take responsibility for the submission. Its documentation puts the practical test plainly: contributors should understand and be able to defend what they submit.
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ASF contributors also remain responsible for their representations about originality and licensing rights. Disclosure helps reviewers understand provenance, but it does not establish that the code is correct, license-compatible or acceptable to maintainers.
What should you check before submitting?
- Read the current repository rules. Open the project’s contribution instructions and any AI-specific policy. Check rules for the exact repository and contribution type.
- Find the required disclosure format and location. Look for instructions on commit messages, pull-request descriptions, cover letters or changelogs. Use the requested syntax; do not assume a disclosure tag replaces other requirements.
- Review the diff and tests. Verify the change and understand it well enough to explain and defend its behavior. Follow any project-specific testing instructions.
- Check rights and licenses. Review the AI tool’s terms and consider whether output includes recognizable third-party material. Confirm that any required permission, notice, attribution and license information is handled.
- Make the human submission correctly. Retain any required human sign-off and accept responsibility for the contribution. Do not let an AI tool make a certification reserved for a person.
- Be ready for maintainer review. Include relevant provenance and testing details where requested, and respond to requests for explanations or additional checks.
Can a maintainer reject an AI-assisted contribution?
Yes. In Linux kernel guidance, maintainers may review a submission under the normal process, request extra steps or testing, apply additional scrutiny, or reject it. Disclosure and correct attribution do not guarantee acceptance. Other projects set their own review practices.
Does open-source AI policy settle copyright or publishing questions?
No. Contributor guidance asks practical questions about tool terms, project licenses, third-party rights and attribution; contributors should not assume that using an AI tool resolves them. The Linux Foundation and ASF both address conditions involving third-party material, while ASF also distinguishes repository contributions from public material such as announcements, security advisories, websites and release notes. Its contributor guidance should not be read as a blanket rule for all AI-generated publishing.
The Open Source Initiative’s statement is policy advocacy, not a repository submission checklist. It frames open-source freedoms around use, study, modification and sharing, and argues for distinguishing developer responsibilities from downstream deployer responsibilities. It does not tell contributors what disclosure format a specific project requires. See the OSI statement on open-source AI.
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