Carmack Backs Open Source AI

Carmack Backs Open Source AI

13 March 2026

What happened

Veteran software engineer John Carmack affirmed his support for AI models training on open-source code. Carmack stated his "million+ open source LOC were always intended as a gift to the world," and AI training "magnifies the value of the gift." He expressed enthusiasm for this use, noting a disconnect with open-source advocates who oppose AI training on such code. His perspective frames open-source contributions as foundational data for AI development.

Why it matters

This statement clarifies a prominent open-source contributor's stance on AI model training, potentially influencing licensing discussions. For developers and legal teams, Carmack's perspective challenges the anti-AI activist view within the open-source community, suggesting a mechanism for value creation through AI integration rather than exploitation. It provides a counterpoint to arguments for restricting AI access to open-source datasets, impacting future data governance strategies.

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Published on 13 March 2026

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Carmack Backs Open Source AI