# Apache Software Foundation: AI-friendly

> Code or documentation generated wholly or partly with AI can be contributed if the tool's terms allow open source licensing and any third-party material in the output is permitted and compatible. Naming the tool in the commit message, for example with Generated-by, is recommended. Individual projects may add their own rules.

- What it is: Non-profit foundation behind Apache HTTP Server, Kafka, Spark and over 300 other projects. (Foundation)
- Homepage: https://www.apache.org/
- Repository: https://github.com/apache
- Overall stance: AI-friendly (Friendly). AI-assisted contributions are welcome under the same rules as any other contribution.
- Last classified: 2026-10-09 (manual review, high confidence)
- Policy last changed: 2026-10-09
- Web page: https://areweaifriendly.com/projects/apache-software-foundation/

## Policy by area

- **Code contributions**: AI-friendly (Output must be license-compatible)
- **Issues & bug reports**: No AI policy
- **AI-written text**: No AI policy

## In their own words

- Code contributions: "Given the above, code generated in whole or in part using AI can be contributed if the contributor ensures that:" (https://www.apache.org/legal/generative-tooling.html)
- Code contributions: "Any third party materials that are included in the output are being used with permission (e.g., under a compatible open-source license) of the third party copyright holders and in compliance with the applicable license terms." (https://www.apache.org/legal/generative-tooling.html)
- Code contributions: "When providing contributions authored using generative AI tooling, a recommended practice is for contributors to indicate the tooling used to create the contribution." (https://www.apache.org/legal/generative-tooling.html)

## Sources

- [ASF Generative Tooling Guidance](https://www.apache.org/legal/generative-tooling.html), fetched 2026-10-09