docs: add AI attribution policy

[ajbozarth]

Misc PR

Type of PR

• Bug Fix
• New Feature
• Documentation
• Other

Description

• Link to Issue: Fixes

Adds an AI attribution policy for the project, partially adopting the
Linux kernel's Assisted-by trailer convention. AI tools add the trailer
by default, so no extra action is required from human contributors.

Changes across five locations:

• AGENTS.md — New §7 instructing AI assistants to add Assisted-by: <tool> by default and not to add a Signed-off-by in their own name
• CONTRIBUTING.md — New "AI Tools" subsection under Commit Messages
  documenting the policy for human contributors
• docs/docs/community/contributing-guide.md — Lighter version of the
  same for new contributors finding the website first
• .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE/*.md — Optional Attribution checkbox
  added to all five PR templates

Testing

• Tests added to the respective file if code was changed
• New code has 100% coverage if code as added
• Ensure existing tests and github automation passes (a maintainer will kick off the github automation when the rest of the PR is populated)

Attribution

• AI tools used (Assisted-by trailer added to commits)

[github-actions]

The PR description has been updated. Please fill out the template for your PR to be reviewed.

[psschwei]

governance file is not updated

[psschwei]

These days I assume all code I see is AI generated. So I'm not sure the value of flagging it in a commit, but it also doesn't really hurt anything (as long as AGENTS.md will add it automatically, I don't want to have to go back and edit my commits)

The LF document we're basing this on (https://docs.kernel.org/process/coding-assistants.html#attribution) suggests the reason they are adding this line is to "track the evolving role of AI in the development process". Is that something we plan on tracking / care about?

[ajbozarth]

The LF document we're basing this on (https://docs.kernel.org/process/coding-assistants.html#attribution) suggests the reason they are adding this line is to "track the evolving role of AI in the development process". Is that something we plan on tracking / care about?

A bit, but they're looking at tools and models in their trailers, whereas I've only put the AI Assistant name since IMHO I use multiple models on any given commit and tools come and go quickly. So to me this is more about automatically marking code as AI assisted as more of an reference

[ajbozarth]

Also if it was not clear, this update is less of a policy change and more of a clarification for agents:
Don't sign-off your commits, instead use assisted-by
This doesn't enforce doing so or require it beyond having it as a default for the project when an agent makes a commit for you.

requested change was made

[psschwei]

LGTM
I would let at least one other person review before merging.

[planetf1]

I suggest the ambiguity is resolved

[planetf1]

Suggested change

	- **Issue/workaround?** → Add to Section 9 (Common Issues) in this file

The section moved (you may want to replace with a proper link)

[planetf1]

this reads as a little confusing - it seems to tell an AI. to use -s when commiting and to not add a line, yet by definition it is what -s does. Maybe something like this

Suggested change

	The project requires sign-offs — use `-s` when committing. Do not add a separate `Signed-off-by` line in the AI's own name. Add an `Assisted-by:` trailer to the commit footer by default:
	Commits require a Signed-off-by trailer from the human author (the human
	runs `git commit -s`). AI agents must not add a Signed-off-by in the
	tool's own name — instead, add an Assisted-by: trailer to the commit
	footer by default:

My AI agent complained on this ambiguity.

[psschwei]

This could be a little confusing too, it could be read as saying that the human will be the one to run the git commit command. Maybe something like this:

Commits require a Signed-off-by trailer from the human author, which is done 
by running `git commit -s`. Do not add an additional Signed-off-by ...

[planetf1]

Suggested change

	Add one line per tool used. Use the tool's common name (GitHub Copilot, Cursor, etc.).

Just to clarify multiple are ok