logo
AI was supposed to speed up coders, new study says it did the opposite

AI was supposed to speed up coders, new study says it did the opposite

India Today4 days ago
Contrary to popular belief, new research has found that using AI tools can actually slow down experienced software developers, especially when working in codebases they already know well. The study, conducted by the nonprofit research group METR, revealed that seasoned open-source developers took 19 per cent longer to complete tasks when using Cursor, a widely used AI-powered coding assistant. As per the study, the result was based on a randomised controlled trial, which involved contributors working on their own open-source projects. advertisementBefore the trial began, developers believed AI would significantly increase their speed, which is estimated at a 24 per cent improvement in task completion time. Even after finishing their tasks, many still believed the AI had helped them work faster, estimating a 20 per cent improvement. But the real data showed otherwise.'We found that when developers use AI tools, they take 19 per cent longer than without, AI makes them slower,' the researchers wrote. The lead authors of the study, Joel Becker and Nate Rush, admitted the results came as a surprise. Rush had initially predicted 'a 2x speed up, somewhat obviously.' But the study told a different story.
The findings challenge the widespread notion that AI tools automatically make human coders more efficient, a belief that has attracted billions of dollars in investment and sparked predictions that AI could soon replace many junior engineering roles.Past studies have shown strong productivity gains with AI. One found that AI helped developers complete 56 per cent more code, while another claimed a 26 per cent boost in task volume. But the METR study suggests that those gains don't apply to all situations, especially where developers already have deep familiarity with the code.Instead of streamlining work, the AI often made suggestions that were only 'directionally correct,' said Becker. '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.'As a result, developers spent additional time reviewing and correcting AI-generated code, which ultimately slowed them down. However, the researchers do not believe this slowdown would apply to all coding scenarios, such as those involving junior developers or unfamiliar codebases.Despite the results, both the study's authors and most participants continue to use Cursor. Becker suggested that while the tool may not speed up work, it can still make development feel easier and more enjoyable.'Developers have goals other than completing the task as soon as possible,' he said. 'So they're going with this less effortful route.'The authors also emphasised that their findings should not be over-generalised. The slowdown only reflects a snapshot of AI's capabilities as of early 2025, and further improvements in prompting, training, and tool design could lead to different outcomes in future.As AI systems continue to evolve, METR plans to repeat such studies to better understand how AI might accelerate, or hinder, human productivity in real-world development settings.- Ends
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Closing the leadership gap: Kuruva Venkataramana Murthy's AI-driven leadership reimagines dharma in the age of algorithms
Closing the leadership gap: Kuruva Venkataramana Murthy's AI-driven leadership reimagines dharma in the age of algorithms

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Closing the leadership gap: Kuruva Venkataramana Murthy's AI-driven leadership reimagines dharma in the age of algorithms

As artificial intelligence accelerates decision-making across industries, human leadership faces a growing credibility crisis — one defined by ethical drift, emotional detachment, and reactive governance. In his groundbreaking new book, releasing on August 2, 2025, AI-Driven Leadership: Adapt. Amplify. Accelerate., TEDx speaker and UN-recognised coach Kuruva Venkataramana Murthy offers a powerful response rooted in India's ancient wisdom. Murthy proposes a Dharmic lens for the digital age, replacing the obsession with speed and scale with conscious precision. His AAA Model reframes leadership as a journey to: Adapt with Awareness Amplify with Ethics Accelerate with Alignment Far from nostalgia, this fusion of Dharma and tech-readiness delivers a strategic framework for today's founders, CXOs, and change agents navigating AI bias, data-driven decision fatigue, and system misalignment. The book draws from Panchsheel-inspired principles and real-world case studies — from AI in hiring gone wrong to the human cost of poorly scaled tech solutions. Murthy challenges readers to lead not just intelligently, but soulfully. Founder of the One in the Universe movement, Murthy's work is more than a book; it's a blueprint for rehumanising leadership in an age of algorithms.

Digital Realty boosts annual revenue forecast on data center demand
Digital Realty boosts annual revenue forecast on data center demand

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

Digital Realty boosts annual revenue forecast on data center demand

Digital Realty Trust raised its annual revenue and core funds from operations forecast on Thursday, as it expects an increase in demand for data center services due to businesses accelerating digital transformation efforts. Austin, Texas-based Digital Realty has benefited from a surge in demand as enterprises upgrade and outsource their IT infrastructure, further boosted by advancements in artificial intelligence technology. The company is well positioned as a major beneficiary of Al and cloud megatrends, with strong demand driving improved volumes and pricing. Analysts expect strong growth in data center activity through 2025, as increased infrastructure investment is plowed towards enhancing computing power for future AI implementations. Digital Realty leases out managed data centers to clients in sectors that range from cloud and information technology to social networking, communications and manufacturing. The real estate investment trust now expects revenue between $5.93 billion and $6.03 billion for the year, compared with its earlier projection in the range of $5.83 billion and $5.93 billion. It forecast annual core FFO in the range of $7.15 to $7.25 per share, up from its earlier outlook of between $7.05 and $7.15 apiece. For the second quarter ended June 30, Digital Realty posted revenue of $1.49 billion, compared with estimates of $1.45 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.

How artificial intelligence is making dentistry smarter
How artificial intelligence is making dentistry smarter

India Today

time2 hours ago

  • India Today

How artificial intelligence is making dentistry smarter

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is beginning to find its utility in dental clinics across India in practical, task-specific ways. AI works quietly in the background, helping dentists focus on what matters most: accurate diagnosis and meaningful conversations with SUBTLE DIAGNOSTIC CLUESRadiographs and scans are commonly utilised by dentists to make decisions, particularly in cases where symptoms are imprecise or inconsistent. Although human expertise is still crucial, it has limitations, particularly when handling early disease symptoms or fatigue from extended spoke with Dr Sanjeet Shanker, a prosthodontist and founder and CEO of to get more insights. In order to find patterns that point to issues like early periapical lesions, slight bone loss, or developing cavities, AI-assisted imaging tools scan thousands of radiographs. The clinician's judgment is not claimed to be in control of these tools. Rather, they serve as an extra pair of eyes, pointing out areas that need more a routine examination, a tiny dark patch on a molar root might not be noticeable. But when highlighted by an AI system, it becomes a point of discussion, leading to follow-up scans, confirmed diagnoses, and timely PATIENTS UNDERSTAND THEIR DIAGNOSISAI tools also change how patients interact with their care. One of the recurring challenges in dentistry is bridging the gap between clinical language and patient understanding. Telling a patient about a possible lesion can be difficult when they cannot see or feel anything when AI highlights a concern on an image, and that image is shown during the consultation, it shifts the dynamic. Patients are now being shown. This level of transparency encourages them to ask questions, understand the issue better, and proceed with greater that have adopted AI diagnostic tools report better treatment plan acceptance and more word-of-mouth referrals. For instance, data from dental practices using AI has indicated positive outcomes. Treatment plan acceptance rose by 31%, patient referrals grew by 24%, and satisfaction levels reached new highs, according to EpikDoc performance ROUTINE WORKAI is also easing the strain of routine documentation. Voice-enabled tools now assist with dental charting, recognising clinical terms, and converting speech to structured notes. For dentists, this means less time spent at the screen and more time with the orthodontic settings, AI systems can simulate tooth movement, helping plan treatment phases more effectively. This helps clinicians explain the journey ahead in clearer terms and allows patients to visualise their progress, especially valuable for long-term cases involving braces or of these tools replaces the need for clinical oversight. What they do is take over the repetitive parts, scanning images, organising notes, suggesting next steps, so the dentist can stay focused on decision-making and patient SIGNALS IN ORAL RISKSadvertisementAI's potential is being explored in areas like oral cancer detection, where early signs may appear in imaging or histopathology slides. India continues to face a high burden of tobacco-related lesions, and faster identification of risk markers could play a role in addressing delays in these applications are still in research or pilot stages, they point to a future where AI could assist in high-stakes areas without overwhelming the existing system. For now, its role remains grounded: support, not AND LEARNING OVER TIMEWhat makes AI different from conventional software is that it learns. As more scans are added, and more outcomes are fed back into the system, the tool becomes sharper. This means that clinics using AI today are contributing to a system that improves over adoption still varies. Larger clinics in metro areas are more likely to integrate AI, thanks to better infrastructure and patient volume. Smaller practices are watching with interest, and as costs come down and systems become more modular, wider adoption is CLARITY IN TREATMENT CONVERSATIONSDental care often involves choices, whether to observe, intervene, restore, or refer. These choices become easier when patients are presented with clear, visual evidence backed by makes this possible. It does not make the final call, but it helps structure the conversation. When a patient sees what the dentist sees, the conversation becomes simpler, the questions become more focused, and the decisions become GOOD DENTISTRY EASIER TO DELIVERTechnology in dentistry works best when it does not demand attention. The goal is to assist, to make diagnosis more accurate, explanations clearer, and workflow more manageable.- Ends

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store