Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 4 hrs ago
Torvalds says Linux 7.4 brings AI patches into normal development
Linus Torvalds has released the first candidate for Linux 7.4, the next version of the operating system's kernel.
The release includes almost 20,000 commits, compared with about 15,000 in a typical development window.
Torvalds says AI-related work is increasingly part of normal development, rather than arriving mainly as fixes during the later stabilization phase.
He called this a healthier approach, while noting that some AI-suggested patches are rewritten by developers.
Linux 7.4 includes processor support improvements and virtual-machine security changes, along with additions for a Raspberry Pi monitor and Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 chip.
Some Linux users expect version 7.4 to be a long-term support release, though Torvalds said that expectation may also help explain its unusually large set of changes.
Linus Torvalds has posted the first release candidate for Linux kernel version 7.4.
He said AI-related work is increasingly arriving during the normal merge window rather than mainly as fixes during the stabilization period.
The merge window contains almost 20,000 commits, compared with about 15,000 usually submitted for a new kernel release.
Torvalds called this a “much healthier model,” while noting that AI-suggested patches often get rewritten.
He said the expected long-term support status of Linux 7.4 may also help explain the large number of commits.
- Who
- Linus Torvalds and Linux kernel developers.
- What
- Torvalds posted the first release candidate for Linux 7.4 and said AI-related work is becoming part of normal development.
- When
- The first release candidate was posted by November 1, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Torvalds said AI-related work is increasingly arriving during the merge window rather than mainly as fixes during the stabilization period. He also said the expected long-term support status of 7.4 may be another reason for the large number of commits.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Torvalds posted the first release candidate for Linux kernel version 7.4.
Torvalds described the release as a large merge window with almost 20,000 commits and discussed AI-related contributions.
- Kernel version
- Linux 7.4
- Release status
- First release candidate
- Commits
- Almost 20,000, compared with the usual approximately 15,000
- AI patches
- Torvalds said they often get rewritten
- Expected release status
- 7.4 is expected by some to be the next long-term support release
What people are saying
I think that's a much healthier model
I'm much happier with the flood of AI triggered work going into the merge window than it showing up mainly as extra fixes during the -rc period.
Large, and full of fixes for issues found by AI (and more and more the patches have been suggested by AI too, although they often get rewritten).
So it may not just be the flood of AI patches.