Hi, I wasn't able to check the signatures yet, but it looks like there are enough seconds. I'll try to update the vote page later today.
It would be nice if someone can make sure we have good short sentences for the ballot. Kurt On August 11, 2026 10:10:00 PM GMT+08:00, Gard Spreemann <[email protected]> wrote: >Hello all, > >Some of us feel that we lack a middle of the road option that >differentiates between the output of LLMs entering into Debian, and a >Debian contributor consuming the output of LLMs to assist them in work >on Debian. I therefore submit the following ballot option. > >I realize that there is a large number of options already, but we do >have a voting system that is unperturbed by that. While a large number >of options might mean extra work for voters, I on balance believe that >it is more important that all views are reflected. > >Thanks to all those who participated in the discussions and gave >feedback, and to those who worked on other attempts at middle of the >road options reflecting the abovementioned distinction. > >NB: The proposal uses the term "generative AI" to mean what some other >proposals call "LLMs" or just "AI". Several people suggested that I >change the term, and while I agree that it's quite suboptimal, I also >don't think those two other alternatives are much better. Yet other, >shall we say more colorful, alternatives can be nice, but run the risk >of not conveying the same meaning to everyone. For better or worse, the >term as it stands is at least *understood*. If the ballot option does >get enough seconds, I would not object to changing the term to another >standard term as part of a minor editorial change. > > > Best, > Gard > > >----- BEGIN BALLOT OPTION ----- > > ># Debian is created by humans > > >## Preamble > >This proposal aims to ensure that contributions directly to Debian are >created by humans, while at the same time avoiding restrictions on the >tools those humans may choose to use when contributing. > >The proposal deals with *direct* contributions to Debian, including, but >not limited to: > >* Debian packaging >* Submissions (messages, bug reports, patches, etc.) to the BTS, Salsa, > mailing lists and other Debian platforms >* Debian project software >* Debian infrastructure >* Debian web resources >* Documentation and translation added as part of contributing to Debian >* Official communication from Debian > >The proposal does not cover *indirect* contributions, i.e. those >originating from upstream works. > >Generative AI is characterized by producing output of a nature that >would ordinarily be produced and consumed by humans. The proposal seeks >to restrict this output itself from entering Debian (except possibly >indirectly, from upstream). It does not seek to restrict Debian >contributors from consuming such output as part of contributing to >Debian. > > >## Rationale > >Debian has a well-earned reputation for stability. This stability is >crucial to its position in the free software ecosystem. It is our belief >that a significant part of this stability comes from Debian contributors >having mutual understanding, trust and respect for each others' work and >precious time. Generative AI tends to come with practical, legal, >ethical or ecological concerns that warrant care or extra work that >often ends up being borne by people other than those wielding the AI. We >believe that this asymmetry between contributors leveraging generative >AI to produce material, and those humans who bear that extra care and >work, will erode the project's mutual understanding, trust and respect. > >While Debian has a long-standing tradition of strict rules for what goes >into the distribution, it does not typically dictate what tools people >use when contributing to the project. With this principle in mind, the >proposal does not affect the use of generative AI as an assisitive tool >to explore, research, analyze, critique, etc., when contributing. The >responsibilities that come with using the output of an AI in such a role >is then not transferred onto the wider project in the same problematic >way as when the output itself is the contribution. > > >## Proposal > >In order to safeguard the project's mutual understanding, trust and >respect, we disallow the output of generative AI as direct contributions >to Debian. > >Those who use such tools assistively in their work are reminded to >ensure that the resulting contribution is in line with the DFSG and the >Social Contract in general. > >In summary, humans create Debian. > > >## Acknowledgements > >This proposal is inspired by GCC's AI Policy [1] and rust-lang's LLM >Usage Policy [2]. Its wording is influenced by another ballot >option [3]. > >[1] https://gcc.gnu.org/ai-policy.html > >[2] https://forge.rust-lang.org/policies/llm-usage.html > >[3] https://www.debian.org/vote/2026/vote_002#texta > > >----- END BALLOT OPTION -----
