Thanks for this Gerd! I second this ballot option.
On Tue, Aug 11, 2026 at 04:10:00PM +0200, Gard Spreemann wrote: > >----- 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 ----- -- Steve McIntyre, Cambridge, UK. [email protected] Getting a SCSI chain working is perfectly simple if you remember that there must be exactly three terminations: one on one end of the cable, one on the far end, and the goat, terminated over the SCSI chain with a silver-handled knife whilst burning *black* candles. --- Anthony DeBoer
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