AI Coding Tools: Limited Productivity Boost for Experts

A new study by METR challenges the assumption that AI coding tools universally boost developer productivity. The study, involving 16 experienced open-source developers completing real-world coding tasks, found that while AI tools like GitHub Copilot and Cursor are improving, their impact on experienced developers' speed isn't as significant as initially hoped. The research, a randomized controlled trial, suggests that the benefits of these AI tools may be more nuanced than previously believed and may not equally benefit all developers. Further research is needed to fully understand the impact of these tools on developer workflow.