The Digital Press

A rigorous study found that AI coding tools actually decreased productivity by 19% for experienced developers working on mature projects, despite participants believing AI sped them up by 20%.

Why it matters: AI tools may not yet improve real-world coding efficiency and could mislead developers about their true impact.

The big picture: AI excels in small, well-defined tasks but struggles with complex, large codebases requiring deep project knowledge and strict standards.

The other side: Less experienced developers and greenfield projects may still see productivity gains from AI coding tools, according to other studies.

Commenters say: Readers appreciate the balanced analysis, noting the gap between perceived and actual productivity and emphasizing the need for objective AI impact metrics.