Hi Marc, Thanks for this proposal, (I was just brainstorming something very similar ;-))
This is hereby seconded, as is, and if you pick up any of my remarks I will still second it. Some thoughts: I'd call the option "Responsible Use of Generative AI", as the proposal clearly focuses on responsible use of AI, whereas "permissive" could be interpreted as endorsing unrestricted use. But this is probably bike-shedding... On Sun, Jul 26, 2026 at 09:11:32AM +0200, Marc Haber wrote: > Hello, > > here is my offer for a deliberately permissive ballot option for this > GR. It was inspired by my first ideas, then refined using generative AI, > and then again reviewed with a second refine stap by myself. > > Not being experienced with GRs, and not willing to discuss this with an > AI tool, I would like to solicit opinions about what kind of majority > this would need. > > This is no yet signed since it is just a draft. > > DRAFT BALLOT OPTION > > **Permissive Use of Generative AI** > > Debian neither endorses nor prohibits the use of generative AI tools in > the development, maintenance, or documentation of software, packaging, > documentation, and other media published within the Debian Project. We > recognize that such tools can substantially improve the productivity of > contributors when used responsibly, allowing volunteers to spend more of > their limited time on work that requires technical expertise, judgment, > review, and collaboration. > > The Debian Project nevertheless expects that all contributions submitted > to Debian, regardless of how and with which tools they were produced, > satisfy the same standards of quality, correctness, maintainability, and > legal compliance. The use of a generative AI tool does not diminish the > contributor's responsibility for the work they submit. Contributors are > expected to understand, review, test, and, where appropriate, modify > AI-assisted output before incorporating it into Debian. Blindly > accepting or uploading AI-generated material without appropriate human > review is inconsistent with Debian's established development practices. > > Debian acknowledges that the legal status of material produced by > generative AI systems remains the subject of ongoing discussion in many > jurisdictions, including questions relating to copyright, authorship, > licensing, and potential reproduction of training material. The Project > does not seek to resolve these unsettled legal questions through this > General Resolution, nor does it adopt a position on whether AI-generated > output is, in whole or in part, copyrightable or derived from > copyrighted works. > > Instead, Debian continues to rely on the judgment and responsibility of > its individual contributors. Project members are expected to exercise > appropriate care when using generative AI tools, to consider the > provenance and licensing implications of material they contribute, and > to avoid introducing content whose legal status they cannot reasonably > justify. Existing Debian policies governing licensing, copyright, > software freedom, and the acceptance of contributions continue to apply > irrespective of the tools used to produce those contributions. We expect > our contributors to design their workflows with due dilience, and to > keep AI tools away from confidential materials, private comunications > and cryptographic keys regarding the Debian infrastructure and > community. Would it make sense to limit the last sentence (after ", and") to external AI tools and make it clearer that confidentiality is not optional? For example: Contributors must not submit confidential information, embargoed information, private communications, personal data, or security-sensitive material to external AI services. This would make it clear that the concern is not the use of AI itself, but the disclosure of information to third-party services. > This resolution therefore affirms that generative AI is neither exempt > from nor subject to special rules beyond the standards already expected > of Debian contributors. The responsibility for every contribution rests > with the contributor who submits it, who remains accountable for its > technical quality, legal acceptability, and suitability for inclusion in > Debian. > > END BALLOT OPTION > > Greetings > Marc Cheers, -- tobi
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