Linux 7.3-rc3 exposes maintainer overload from AI-generated patches

On September 13, 2026 Linus Torvalds released Linux 7.3-rc3, another fairly large rc driven by XFS and the SMB client, against the backdrop of Greg Kroah-Hartman’s warning that AI-generated patches are overwhelming maintainers. Follow the Assisted-by policy and take stock of what the AI wave changes for kernel contributors.