AI usage at work becoming more common
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Techday NZ
2 hours ago
- Techday NZ
Developers adopt AI tools but trust issues persist, survey finds
Stack Overflow has released the results of its 2025 Developer Survey, detailing the perceptions and habits of more than 49,000 technologists across 177 countries. The AI trust gap The survey indicates a significant disparity between AI adoption and trust among developers. While 84% of respondents use or plan to use artificial intelligence tools in their workflow, nearly half (46%) report that they do not trust the accuracy of AI-generated output. This marks a substantial rise from 31% indicating a lack of trust in the previous year. This year's expanded artificial intelligence section included 15 new questions, addressing topics such as the utility of AI agent tools, the impact of AI on developers' jobs, and the phenomenon of "vibe coding". "The growing lack of trust in AI tools stood out to us as the key data point in this year's survey, especially given the increased pace of growth and adoption of these AI tools. AI is a powerful tool, but it has significant risks of misinformation or can lack complexity or relevance. With the use of AI now ubiquitous and 'AI slop' rapidly replacing the content we see online, an approach that leans heavily on trustworthy, responsible use of data from curated knowledge bases is critical. By providing a trusted human intelligence layer in the age of AI, we believe the tech enthusiasts of today can play a larger role in adding value to build the AI technologies and products of tomorrow," said Prashanth Chandrasekar, CEO of Stack Overflow. The survey found that 75% of users do not trust AI-generated answers, and 45% find debugging AI-generated code time-consuming. Ethical and security concerns are prevalent, with 61.7% citing these as reasons for hesitancy, while 61.3% wish to maintain full understanding of their code. AI use and productivity Despite low overall adoption, AI agents are associated with productivity improvements. Only 31% of developers currently use AI agents, but among those, 69% report increased workplace productivity. Meanwhile, 17% are planning to adopt such tools, while 38% are not planning to use them at all. A majority (64%) of developers do not see AI as a threat to their employment, though this figure has declined slightly from the previous year's 68%. Platforms and tools Visual Studio Code and Visual Studio remain the most used Integrated Development Environments (IDEs). New AI-enabled IDEs have entered the market, with Cursor at an 18% usage rate, Claude Code at 10%, and Windsurf at 5% among respondents. Among large language models (LLMs), OpenAI's GPT series is the most popular, used by 81% of developers surveyed. Claude Sonnet received 43% usage, and Gemini Flash 35%. Vibe coding and new ways of learning 'Vibe coding', defined as generating software from LLM prompts, was explored for the first time. While AI tools are being adopted for learning and development, nearly 77% of developers indicated that vibe coding is not part of their professional workflow. The trend is more relevant for less experienced developers seeking a rapid start, but it comes with a trade-off in the level of trust and confidence in the output. Community platforms continue to play an important role. Stack Overflow is the most common platform, used or planned to be used by 84% of respondents, followed by GitHub at 67%, and YouTube at 61%. Notably, 35% of respondents reported consulting Stack Overflow when confronted with AI-related issues. The survey shows that 69% of developers have learned a new technology or programming language in the past year, with 36% focusing specifically on AI-enabled tools. Usage of AI tools for learning to code has risen to 44%, up from 37% last year. Top resources remain technical documentation (68%), online resources (59%), and Stack Overflow (51%). For those learning AI-specific skills, 53% used AI tools. Gen Z developers (aged 18-24) are more likely to engage with coding challenges, with 15% participating compared to an overall average of 12%. Additionally, a higher proportion of this age group prefers chat-based and challenge-based learning approaches than other cohorts. International responses and technology adoption The United States, Germany, India, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Ukraine, Poland, Netherlands, and Italy were the top ten countries by survey participation. Trust in AI tools differs by region; India saw the highest proportion of developers expressing some or significant trust in AI at 56%, followed by Ukraine at 41%. Other countries showed lower levels of trust, including Italy (31%), Netherlands and United States (28%), Poland (26%), Canada and France (25%), United Kingdom (23%), and Germany (22%). Python continues to gain in popularity, with a seven percentage point increase since 2024. JavaScript (66%), HTML/CSS (62%), and SQL (59%) remain popular programming languages. Docker usage grew by 17 percentage points to 71%, marking it as a widely adopted tool in cloud and infrastructure development. PostgreSQL holds the position as the most sought-after database technology, with 47% planning to use it in the next year or continuing usage, marking its third year at the top in this category. For documentation and collaboration, GitHub leads at 81%, followed by Jira (46%) and GitLab (36%).
Scoop
11 hours ago
- Scoop
One Of NZ's Largest Industrial Property Funds In $50m Capital Raise
The FortHill Fund is one of the countrys largest unlisted industrial property funds, holding over 32 hectares of prime real estate across Auckland, Canterbury and Otago. A $432 million fund linked to New Zealand's largest industrial developer has launched a $50 million capital raise to expand across the North and South Islands, as research shows increasing demand for manufacturing and logistics infrastructure designed for automation. The FortHill Fund is one of the country's largest unlisted industrial property funds, holding over 32 hectares of prime real estate across Auckland, Canterbury and Otago. The portfolio includes the $68 million NZ Safety Blackwoods building at Drury South Crossing, which was the highest value industrial property transaction in the second half of last year. Its other tenants include blue-chip brands such as NZ Post, Winstone Wallboards, DHL, OfficeMax, Waste Management and Fletcher Easysteel. According to latest research from JLL, New Zealand's industrial sector contributes 26% of GDP and continues to attract strong investor interest. The data shows rental values for prime properties are climbing sharply, particularly in Auckland, where warehouse rates have grown by more than 80% over the past decade. Demand for automated logistics and warehousing facilities is being fuelled by the sustained growth of e-commerce and export sectors. Under a new solar upgrade programme, believed to be one of the country's largest ever rooftop solar retrofit projects, over 8,000 panels will be installed across 20 buildings in the portfolio, providing potential generation capacity of more than 4 million kWh per year. As part of its sustainability initiative, FortHill has also partnered with ASB and New Zealand tech firm Tether to install AI-powered energy monitoring systems in 13 industrial facilities. The year-long pilot is designed to identify real-time energy usage patterns and reduce tenant operating costs by up to 30%. Nick Maier, general manager of FortHill, says the wholesale fund has first look at new industrial developments from Calder Stewart, offering a unique competitive advantage. He says the fund is targeting further acquisitions in both Auckland and Christchurch. 'The research shows that with interest rates easing and prime rents increasing, investor capital is flowing back into industrial property. 'As a result of our direct access to off-market developments from New Zealand's largest industrial builder, CalderStewart, we're uniquely positioned to capitalise on this. 'These facilities cover over 144,000m2 of lettable area and are in the country's main logistics hubs. Most national operators need one shed in Auckland and one in Christchurch, close to major transport corridors. We're focused on owning the best version of those – sites with strong infrastructure links, modern design, and long-term tenant appeal. 'Tenants are increasingly investing heavily in automated systems and require buildings that support them. High-stud clearances, strong floor slabs, electrification and efficient layouts are all essential now. We're seeing a shift from simply occupying space to using it as a platform for productivity,' he says. Maier says the PIE-compliant fund forecasts a 6.1% gross yield for FY26 and has delivered uninterrupted quarterly distributions since its 2019 inception. It currently maintains a weighted average lease term (WALT) of 8.2 years and a 100% occupancy rate. The Fund's cornerstone investor has pre-committed $6.65 million to the new $50m raise.
Techday NZ
11 hours ago
- Techday NZ
Kiwis embrace AI in travel but trust & caution remain high
New research from Global AI Sentiment Report shows a mix of excitement and caution among New Zealand consumers regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in travel planning and experiences. The survey, which included responses from over 1,000 people in New Zealand, indicates that 81% of respondents are excited about AI and 68% consider themselves familiar with the technology. At the same time, 92% of those surveyed registered at least one concern about AI, suggesting that despite interest in its potential, apprehension remains widespread. Excitement and caution According to the report, 79% of New Zealand consumers expressed a desire to use AI to plan their future trips. However, only 3% fully trust AI, and just 6% said they were comfortable allowing AI to make decisions independently without human oversight. This reflects a significant boundary in public trust, with the majority preferring human approval in decision-making processes involving AI. Melissa Ellison, Area Manager of New Zealand at provided further perspective on these findings: "The research shows that Kiwis are embracing AI across many aspects of the travel experience - it's shifting how people explore the world and what they expect along the way. As AI technology evolves, we're committed to further understanding and developing our offerings so we can better improve the customer experience. At we've been using AI for years to make travel more experienced and personalised for Kiwi travellers, including the successful launch of our AI Trip Planner last year - and this next chapter is more than just smart tech. It is making sure it's about building trust and keeping everyone safe as we embrace AI together." Patterns of AI usage The report identified five distinct personas among New Zealand travellers, ranging from AI Advocates, who actively support and promote the use of AI, to AI Sceptics, who express reservations or resistance. Approximately 25% of respondents identified as AI Enthusiasts, interested in AI's possibilities, while 5% were AI Advocates. Meanwhile, 20% of respondents described themselves as AI Cautious, and 11% as AI Sceptics, with 39% categorised as AI Detractors, indicating a tendency to resist or reject AI adoption. Despite hesitancy, AI has already become part of day-to-day activities for many. The study found that 98% use AI-powered search, 81% rely on streaming recommendations enabled by AI, and 62% engage with generative AI tools. However, 49% of respondents felt that AI interactions could be impersonal, and 64% regularly double-check AI-provided information, with 45% always fact-checking and 19% doing so sometimes. Uses in travel AI's role in travel is growing, with 63% of New Zealand respondents expecting autonomous trip planning to become the mainstream approach. Nearly half of those surveyed have already used AI during some stage of their travel experience; of these, 96% used it for planning or booking, and 92% relied on AI while already travelling. When planning a trip, New Zealand travellers most commonly use AI to research destinations and timing (39%), discover local experiences or cultural activities (36%), and seek restaurant recommendations (31%). Notably, AI assistants have gained more trust for travel advice (13%) compared to social media influencers (9%). Additionally, 37% utilise AI for translation, 39% for activity suggestions, 37% for finding places to eat, and 40% for navigating around unfamiliar areas while on holiday. After returning, 34% of respondents use AI to edit their holiday photos. Expectations and impact The majority of respondents (53%) believe that AI can make travel easier and more efficient, and 63% value AI-generated recommendations that help them avoid overcrowded destinations or busy travel periods. A significant portion (48%) also want AI to assist in highlighting experiences that positively affect the communities they visit, indicating growing awareness and demand for sustainable travel practices. Trust and verification Despite increased use of AI, trust remains a substantial hurdle. Only 3% of New Zealand consumers fully trust AI, and most are unwilling to let AI make decisions without some degree of human involvement. Instead, AI is seen primarily as a supportive resource, enhancing human choices rather than replacing them. Regional differences The report also highlights notable contrasts in attitudes toward AI by region. Latin America showed the highest levels of excitement and familiarity with AI (98% and 89% respectively), followed by the Asia Pacific, which included high uptake for daily uses such as education and transport. In contrast, North America and Europe & Middle East displayed greater levels of scepticism, with higher percentages expressing distrust towards information generated by AI (32% and 29%, respectively), compared to 16% in Asia Pacific and 15% in Latin America. This report reflects ongoing shifts in how consumers approach technology in travel, suggesting that the relationship between travellers and AI is likely to continue evolving as both adoption and understanding deepen.
