Torvalds ties the size of Linux 7.2-rc7 to AI review tools

Sources: Linux 7.2-rc7 announcement, The Register
Summary: In the Linux 7.2-rc7 announcement, Linus Torvalds describes the size as the new normal with a lot of fixes, many of them due to review by various AI tools. The comparison against past cycles comes from his earlier rc6 announcement dated 2026-08-02, where he called that release candidate the biggest rc6 in years by commit count. The Register reports he expects the release to happen next weekend unless something really bad pops up.
Why it matters: Downstream maintainers and distributors tracking this tree should plan for late-cycle fix volume staying at this level rather than treating one cycle as an exception.