AI Research

AI slows down some experienced software developers, study finds

Published

2 months ago

July 10, 2025

By Anna Tong

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -Contrary to popular belief, using cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools slowed down experienced software developers when they were working in codebases familiar to them, rather than supercharging their work, a new study found.

AI research nonprofit METR conducted the in-depth study on a group of seasoned developers earlier this year while they used Cursor, a popular AI coding assistant, to help them complete tasks in open-source projects they were familiar with.

Before the study, the open-source developers believed using AI would speed them up, estimating it would decrease task completion time by 24%. Even after completing the tasks with AI, the developers believed that they had decreased task times by 20%. But the study found that using AI did the opposite: it increased task completion time by 19%.

The study’s lead authors, Joel Becker and Nate Rush, said they were shocked by the results: prior to the study, Rush had written down that he expected “a 2x speed up, somewhat obviously.”

The findings challenge the belief that AI always makes expensive human engineers much more productive, a factor that has attracted substantial investment into companies selling AI products to aid software development.

AI is also expected to replace entry-level coding positions. Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, recently told Axios that AI could wipe out half of all entry-level white collar jobs in the next one to five years.

Prior literature on productivity improvements has found significant gains: one study found using AI sped up coders by 56%, another study found developers were able to complete 26% more tasks in a given time.

But the new METR study shows that those gains don’t apply to all software development scenarios. In particular, this study showed that experienced developers intimately familiar with the quirks and requirements of large, established open source codebases experienced a slowdown.

Other studies often rely on software development benchmarks for AI, which sometimes misrepresent real-world tasks, the study’s authors said.

The slowdown stemmed from developers needing to spend time going over and correcting what the AI models suggested.

“When we watched the videos, we found that the AIs made some suggestions about their work, and the suggestions were often directionally correct, but not exactly what’s needed,” Becker said.

The authors cautioned that they do not expect the slowdown to apply in other scenarios, such as for junior engineers or engineers working in codebases they aren’t familiar with.

Still, the majority of the study’s participants, as well as the study’s authors, continue to use Cursor today. The authors believe it is because AI makes the development experience easier, and in turn, more pleasant, akin to editing an essay instead of staring at a blank page.

“Developers have goals other than completing the task as soon as possible,” Becker said. “So they’re going with this less effortful route.”

(Reporting by Anna Tong in San Francisco; Editing by Sonali Paul)

Source link

Related Topics:AI research Contrary to popular belief developers Joel Becker open-source developers software developers software development

Up Next

Pope: AI development must build bridges of dialogue and promote fraternity

Don't Miss

Canadian scientists pioneer made-in-Canada quantum-powered AI solution to solve worldwide challenge

Anna Tong

Click to comment

AI Research

Marquis Who’s Who Honors Sandra E. Cheung, PhD, for Expertise in Artificial Intelligence

Published

52 minutes ago

September 10, 2025

The Editors

Marquis Who’s Who Honors Sandra E. Cheung, PhD, for Expertise in Artificial Intelligence

Sandra E. Cheung promotes AI literacy and drives technology transformations

She aims to cultivate artificial intelligence literacy among communities across the United States by planting seeds of knowledge that encourage individuals to manage future technology challenges.

BELMONT, CA, September 10, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ — Sandra E. Cheung, PhD, has been included in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Cheung is a distinguished leader in the technology and engineering sectors. Inspired by the emergence of artificial intelligence in the technology sector, she launched AImpowered in 2025, and the nonprofit organization has since been dedicated to educating people on safe and effective use of AI. As the chief executive officer of the firm, she has been instrumental in shaping the organization’s mission to bridge the digital divide and promote AI literacy, and she manages project timelines, coordinates meetings, implements key strategies, and monitors performance. Dr. Cheung also oversees budget expenditures, ensures compliance, and expertly supports her associates in their innovative pursuits.

Through AImpowered, Dr. Cheung offers workshops tailored for both children and adults, emphasizing the importance of in-person interactions for those affected by technological barriers. She is particularly dedicated to supporting individuals who struggle with technology, equipping them with the necessary tools to navigate the evolving landscape of AI. Dr. Cheung is also proud to curate content that helps parents gauge the influence of AI on home and school environments and to promote advocacy for children’s education in this field.

Drawing from her own experiences raising children during the rise of mobile phones, Dr. Cheung aids parents in grasping contemporary challenges posed by rapid technological advancement. Additionally, she prioritizes platforms that empower current technology workers to harness AI in their work. Notably, Dr. Cheung’s efforts through AImpowered prepare both parents and professionals to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven world.

In her comprehensive role, Dr. Cheung relies on experience gained from a series of pivotal professional appointments. From 2021 to 2024, she was the chief of staff and head of operations, strategy and planning at Webex, where she held oversight of operational efficiency and strategic initiatives that supported the company’s growth in collaborative technologies. Between 2018 and 2020, Dr. Cheung excelled as the director of software engineering at Cisco, and her signature leadership was pivotal in driving software development projects that enhanced Cisco’s product offerings.

From 2012 to 2018, Dr. Cheung provided technology and management consulting services at Cadushi, advising organizations on optimizing their technological infrastructure and management practices. Additionally, during her tenure as the senior director of infrastructure engineering and production operations at Yahoo! from 2005 to 2012, she played a critical role in addressing a significant crisis related to data center capacity amid financial constraints. Drawing inspiration from Yahoo!’s engineers, she collaborated with leadership to drive innovation among the company’s teams, inspiring others to look beyond conventional methods and galvanizing teams around a shared vision.

Before joining Yahoo!, Dr. Cheung was the director of network planning, design and analysis at Covad from 2003 to 2005, before which she served as the director of network engineering at Covad Communications from 1998 to 2003. In these positions, she oversaw network infrastructure development and strategic planning. Dr. Cheung began her professional journey in 1994 as a senior member of technical staff at AT&T, where she thrived through 1998.

The pursuit of service opportunities prompted Dr. Cheung to accept an appointment as the co-chair of the engineering council at Founders Creative in 2025, through which she contributes her expertise to foster innovation within the organization. Her commitment to promoting and advancing women in various fields is reflected through her membership in Women in Collaboration and her substantial leadership tenure with the Girl Scouts; additionally, Dr. Cheung is a proud co-founder and the acting president of the Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association.

Dr. Cheung’s academic credentials are impressive and include a Bachelor of Science in computer science from Florida Institute of Technology, which she completed in 1988. She also holds a Doctor of Philosophy in computer science from the University of Florida, which she proudly earned in 1993. Dr. Cheung credits her adaptability and dedication to making a positive impact on others as central to her success across diverse personal and professional platforms.

Looking toward the future, Dr. Cheung aims to cultivate artificial intelligence literacy among communities across the United States by planting seeds of knowledge that encourage individuals to manage future technology challenges. She emphasizes education as a foundation that must extend throughout all stages of learning so that younger generations can navigate change without anxiety while remaining grounded in core human values. Through her initiatives, Dr. Cheung seeks to foster collaboration and help people embrace transformative advancements.

About Marquis Who’s Who®:

Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

# # #

Source link