Researchers tracked 112 professional developers using AI agents on the job and found they plan tasks, review every diff, and limit agent scope rather than handing off vague prompts. In trials, AI slowed senior devs by 19% and produced merged PRs only 8% of the time, revealing a 92% failure rate when agents ran unsupervised.

A survey of 167 software engineers reveals that while many feel they are keeping pace with AI coding tools, a significant number also express concerns about job security and productivity. The concept of "vibe-coding," popularized by Andrej Karpathy, highlights the changing landscape of software development, where AI assistance is both a boon and a potential hindrance. Engineers report mixed experiences, with some finding increased productivity while others struggle with over-reliance on AI-generated code.