- Sources: primary, ballot, LWN, discussion
- Summary: The secretary's result file states the winner is Option 5, "Responsible Use of Generative AI", the sole member of the Schwartz set, calculated 2026-08-29 00:01:41 after voting closed 2026-08-28 23:59:59 UTC. Option 1, "Ban LLM contributions from Debian via Social Contract", was dropped for failing its 3:1 supermajority at 0.560, with 144 against 257, and Option 3, "Reject LLMs as far as practical, update Code of Conduct", was dropped at 0.765, with 176 against 230. Option 5 beat Option 2, "Allow AI-Assisted Contributions with conditions", 203 to 148, Option 4 232 to 115, and Option 6 210 to 130, on a ballot carrying eight proposals plus None of the above.
- Why it matters: Debian now holds a stated project position on AI-assisted contributions instead of an open ballot, and both the outright ban and the reject-as-far-as-practical option were dropped, so the adopted position is not a prohibition.
- Follow-up: Correction to the earlier note that the text of Option 5 was not established. LWN, reporting the result on 2026-08-29, quotes it: Debian neither endorses nor prohibits generative AI tools, contributions must meet the same standards of quality, correctness, maintainability and legal compliance regardless of how they were produced, using such a tool does not diminish the contributor's responsibility, and contributors are expected to understand, review, test and where appropriate modify AI-assisted output before incorporating it.
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