The Linux Foundation’s 2025 report reveals it earned over $300 million but spent only 2.6% on Linux kernel development, while shifting its primary focus and resources toward artificial intelligence initiatives. The Foundation also continues to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as training programs, allocating more funds to these areas than to Linux itself.
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The Linux Foundation’s 2025 annual report reveals that the organization generated over $300 million in revenue this year, a significant sum for a non-profit focused on open-source technology. However, only about 2.6% of this income—roughly $8.4 million—was allocated to Linux kernel-related activities, which is the Foundation’s original and flagship project. This relatively small percentage has raised eyebrows, considering the Foundation’s name and historical mission.
A major theme of the report is the Foundation’s shift in focus from Linux to artificial intelligence (AI). The executive director, Jim Zemlin, explicitly states that AI is now the future of the Linux Foundation, a sentiment echoed throughout the report. AI is mentioned over 150 times in the 59-page document, while the Linux kernel is referenced only 20 times, and Linux in general just 40 times—often in the context of supporting AI initiatives. This shift is further reflected in the Foundation’s project communities, with over 12% now dedicated to AI, machine learning, data, and analytics.
The report also highlights the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In 2025, $1.5 million was spent on travel funding, with 60% going to diverse community members—a decrease from 75% the previous year. DEI and inclusivity are mentioned more frequently than in past reports, and the Foundation continues to support organizations like Trans Tech Social Enterprises, which focuses on creating a gender-expansive and affirming tech industry for transgender and gender non-conforming people.
Training and educational initiatives remain a significant part of the Foundation’s expenditures, with $21.6 million spent on training programs. These programs cover a range of topics, from open-source licensing to community management, but also include DEI-specific training. The video’s creator notes that some of these training materials are overtly political, referencing movements like Black Lives Matter, and that more money is spent on these initiatives than on the Linux kernel itself.
In conclusion, the Linux Foundation’s 2025 report marks a clear pivot toward AI as its central focus, with Linux kernel development receiving a much smaller share of resources. The Foundation continues to invest heavily in DEI and training, reflecting broader trends in the tech industry. While the implications of this shift for the future of Linux are still uncertain, the report underscores a significant transformation in the Foundation’s priorities and activities.