Kernel validation on real hardware is still a highly manual and iterative process. Engineers must repeatedly select system images, provision hardware boards, flash devices, configure test environments, and execute tests to reproduce issues and validate fixes.

In this talk, I present an ongoing effort to automate this validation loop using AI agents. Instead of automating isolated steps, we treat kernel validation as a continuous feedback system and design agents to orchestrate the entire workflow.

We will cover:

• Decomposing the kernel validation loop into automatable stages
• Designing agent-driven workflows for image selection, hardware provisioning, flashing, and test execution
• Integrating with existing tools such as tmt and hardware lab infrastructure
• Supporting iterative debugging workflows for reproducing issues and validating fixes
• Lessons learned from applying this approach in ARM-based kernel validation environments

This talk focuses on real-world engineering challenges, including hardware constraints, non-deterministic failures, and flaky tests. It demonstrates how AI can coordinate complex workflows while keeping humans in the loop for critical decisions.