Sunday, April 13, 2025

Linux Foundation chief talks open source AI and ‘portfolio approach’

Sunday, April 13, 2025

Image Credits: Linux Foundation

Despite its name, the Linux Foundation works on far more than the Linux kernel, supporting 1,000 open source projects in areas like cloud infrastructure, security, digital wallets, and much more.

In an interview with Paul Sawers, Executive Director Jim Zemlin explained that the foundation brings a "portfolio approach" to pool resources and expertise across projects.

He also addressed how AI is changing conversations around open source: Apparently AI practitioners are telling Zemlin that while they "understand the importance of open source as a definition," they also "get frustrated" with those definitions "being a little too pedantic at every layer."

Weekend news and opinion

Image Credits: PM Images / Getty Images

Consumer startup founders lobby Trump: With the Trump administration's back-and-forth on tariffs, 38 female founders of consumer startups published an open letter urging President Trump and Congress to reverse course — or at least create exemptions for small businesses. Otherwise, one founder says she's facing a surprise $200,000 annual bill.

Is the X-xAI merger a good deal? Elon Musk raised eyebrows when he announced that his AI startup would acquire the company formerly known as Twitter. But according to at least one VC, the merger merely "ends some of the fiction" that Musk's companies are separate businesses.

Blue Water Autonomy promises autonomous naval ships: This new startup was founded by former members from the U.S. Navy, as well as leaders from Amazon Robotics and iRobot. It says it developed a full-stack autonomy suite and concept ship designs in less than a year.

Nikola founder may be trying to derail bankruptcy case: The electric truck startup's assets are being sold to Lucid Motors, but founder Trevor Milton (who was recently pardoned by President Trump) may be trying to stop the deal, with his lawyer telling a judge that his client "has some concerns" about the way the auction process was run.

What else we're reading 📗

While Apple can blame its recent stock decline on Trump's announced tariffs, The New York Times reports that Wall Street was already souring on the company. Apparently, after the disappointment of the Vision Pro and the company's slow start in AI, Apple is facing bigger questions around whether it can still innovate.

Also, novelist and tech journalist (and my friend) Vauhini Vara has published a new essay collection called "Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age" that explores our relationship with AI. The New Yorker has an in-depth review.