CDM published a very good summary of what’s actually changed, as well as clarifications directly from Elektron leadership: Elektron is halting sharing of mods and hacks on its forums; official comments - CDM Create Digital Music
[Edit: I think the CDM article provides really good context, but @bibenu is right — it’s not the ultimate source. The official post is here: Elektronauts: Topics and comments regarding modified firmware]
In short, you’re still allowed to modify your gear as long as you’re not breaching their intellectual property. And they’re still supportive of longstanding modding projects like Machinedrum X, whose developer has proven themselves able to provide and support a high-quality product.
There are separate arguments about whether someone SHOULD want to modify their firmware, the role that AI plays in modifications, and the social impacts of AI in general [Edit: which are off-topic]. But regardless of your stance on any of those issues, there are a few facts to keep in mind:
- AI tools have massively decreased the difficulty and time commitment required to code.
- As a result, people with little to no background in software development are able to create mods.
- As a result, there are WAY more mods being created, the quality of mods is much less predictable, and the likelihood that these mods misuse Elektron’s intellectual property is much higher.
- As a result, allowing discussions here creates a high risk of someone encountering problems with something they found on Elektron’s official forums.
[Edit: deleted my opinions]