Linus Torvalds announced the release of Linux kernel 7.4-rc2 on November 9, 2026, noting that AI-driven fixes fueled most of the update's progress. The release consists primarily of simple one-line and two-line fixes that were straightforward to implement.
The Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF) subsection, maintained by Alexei Starovoitov, received more AI-written fixes than standard bug reports. While projects like Chrome and Firefox fixed thousands of bugs in 2026, some have closed bug programs due to low quality.
Torvalds maintains that AI contributions should be embraced if they pass strict quality control. This shift comes as the kernel categorizes changes across graphics, networking, and sound, proving AI's growing role in maintaining critical open-source code.