System76 has updated COSMIC's contribution guidelines to require a declaration that no LLM-generated content appears in a pull request, covering code, comments, and descriptions. The rule does not stop developers from using AI to learn or find bugs; it only bars AI-written material from being submitted to the project.
Some GNOME sub-projects already have similar bans. GNOME Calendar and GNOME Extensions restrict AI-generated contributions, though Extensions permits AI learning aids and code completion. But GNOME developer Michael Catanzaro argues the project should accept AI-generated bug reports, pointing out that GNOME's C, C++, and Vala code is hard to make secure and that AI is uncovering large numbers of flaws.
The Register notes the tension: Red Hat, GNOME's biggest sponsor, is enthusiastic about AI, and allowing AI bug reports could eventually lead to AI-assisted fixes and broader acceptance. COSMIC, by contrast, is a newer Rust-based desktop that shipped its first stable release with Pop!_OS 24.04 in late 2025, and it is taking a stricter line.