The mods at r/opensource posted new submission rules that, among other things, banned projects that use AI. The post made Saturday evening opens by saying, “If your project uses AI, is made by AI, or is intended for AI, it’s not welcome on r/opensource. AI, as it exists today, is incongruent to this Open Source community.” The new rules have set off a firestorm in the comments, and even spurred the creation of a rival sub r/trueopensource. Moderator Wolvereness has waded into the comments to explain that there’s nuance and room for selective enforcement, such as “software that incidentally has accessibility features that use AI,” including voice assistants and image recognition tools that enhance usability without being the core focus. However, the ban seems to overlook the fact that many open-source projects today integrate AI as a fundamental component, such as machine learning frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch, which are themselves open-source and heavily used in the community. By excluding AI-driven projects, r/opensource may be missing out on innovative contributions that push the boundaries of what open-source can achieve. Additionally, the assumption that AI is incongruent with open source overlooks the collaborative spirit of the community, where developers often share and build upon AI models just as they do with traditional codebases. The rule also hints at a preference for human-crafted code, but fails to consider that AI can be a tool for humans to create more efficiently, much like compilers or IDEs. With AI-generated code becoming increasingly viable, the distinction between human and machine creation may blur, suggesting that r/opensource should embrace AI rather than ban it outright. The rivalry with r/trueopensource might be fueled by nostalgia or a desire to preserve a purer form of open source, but it risks becoming a relic if AI continues to dominate software development. In essence, while the new rules aim to refine r/opensource, they may inadvertently narrow its scope and overlook the symbiotic relationship between open-source principles and AI innovation. The community might benefit from a more flexible definition that acknowledges AI as an integral part of modern open-source projects, rather than a separate, less welcome entity. After all, who doesn’t love a bit of AI-powered flair in their code?