Three quarters of business software engineers will use AI code assistants by 2028, up from less than 10 percent in early 2023, according to global research from Gartner.
Almost two-thirds (63 percent) of software employers are piloting, rolling out or already using AI code assistants, also known as copilots, the research found.
The survey of 598 global respondents revealed that collaborative AI assistants are being embraced by software developers because they boost efficiency, enhance brainstorming and increase code quality.
Survey respondents said using AI copilots enabled them to upskill continuously, enjoy greater job satisfaction and had a positive impact on employee retention.
Philip Walsh, senior principal analyst at Gartner, said: “Software engineering leaders must determine return on investment (ROI) and build a business case as they scale their rollouts of AI code assistants.
“However, traditional ROI frameworks steer engineering leaders toward metrics centred on cost reduction. This narrow perspective fails to capture the full value of AI code assistants.”
Gartner urged employers to move ROI conversations on from a focus on cost reduction to acknowledging how it can add value in other areas. For example, it can help reduce employee task switching, which helps maintain a flow state, and it can enhance the coder’s and end user’s experience.
