[FFmpeg-devel] [RFC] Introducing policies regarding "AI" contributions

[Marvin Scholz]

On 7 Jul 2025, at 2:10, Michael Niedermayer wrote:

> Hi
>
> On Mon, Jul 07, 2025 at 12:29:44AM +0200, Alexander Strasser via ffmpeg-devel wrote:
>> Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2025 00:29:44 +0200
>> From: Alexander Strasser <eclipse7 at gmx.net>
>> To: FFmpeg development discussions and patches <ffmpeg-devel at ffmpeg.org>
>> Subject: Re: [FFmpeg-devel] [RFC] Introducing policies regarding "AI" contributions
>>
>> Hi Michael!
>>
>> On 2025-07-04 12:15 +0200, Michael Niedermayer wrote:
>>> The use of tools to assist developers is growing and will
>>> continue to grow. Its not going away.
>>> And what one can and cannot do with these tools will evolve
>>>
>>> I dont think i understand the thought process behind this policy.
>>
>> I did not propose any policy in particular yet. So I'm not
>> sure what you are referring to.
>
> a policy is premature.
>
>
> [...]
>
>> More importantly I see no way for the license part to work out
>> automagically. In how far is the result a derivative other works?
>> How would we apply attribution where original works demand it?
>> How do we now the generated code is not just a mostly exact copy
>> of the original training material?
>
> How do you know that a student that was a tought C by teaching
> materials licensed under AGPL will not produce work that falls under AGPL ?
>
> We should work on FFmpeg, review patches, fix bugs get the release done.
> And let people use the tools that work best for them.
>
> I do not want to have to spend time to think about if the use of
> tools (code completion?, some few line function prototype,
> LLM that fixed spelling errors, ...)
> requires a pariah mark on the patch or is "allowed"
>
> Such rules are IMHO not compatible with free software.
>
> It also would be another huge "go away" sign for the next generation
> of developers.

IMHO if something is a huge "go away" it is the lack of a modern development
workflow, like what a modern Git forge offers…

>
> Such marking is also a source of disagreements (2 people can easily
> disagree on what needs to be marked)
>
> Also if we have a AI policy, we would have to update it as technology
> changes. Thats more wasted resources.
>
> thx
>
> [...]
>
> -- 
> Michael     GnuPG fingerprint: 9FF2128B147EF6730BADF133611EC787040B0FAB
>
> Freedom in capitalist society always remains about the same as it was in
> ancient Greek republics: Freedom for slave owners. -- Vladimir Lenin
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