AI code assistants will be used by 75% of business software developers by 2028, up from less than 10% in early 2023, predicts Gartner. According to a survey conducted by Gartner in the third quarter of 2023 among 598 worldwide respondents, sixty-three percent of enterprises are either presently experimenting, adopting, or have previously implemented AI code helpers.
Additional features beyond code completion and creation are made possible by AI code helpers. They are cooperative helpers that increase productivity by encouraging creative thinking and boosting code quality improvements, enabling developers to constantly advance their skills and gain mastery of various programming languages. The benefits that AI code helpers provide would result in higher work satisfaction and retention rates, which lower turnover costs, according to Gartner.
“As they increase their rollouts of AI code helpers, software engineering executives need to calculate return on investment and provide a business case,” said Philip Walsh, Senior Principal Analyst at Gartner. “But engineering executives are directed toward measures that focus on cutting costs by using standard ROI frameworks. This limited viewpoint falls short of recognizing AI code helpers' full potential.”
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Gartner AI code assistants 2024
Shift ROI Focus from Cost Cutting to Generating Value
The full potential of AI code helpers is not fully captured by conventional ROI models, stated Gartner. Software engineering executives need to shift the focus of the ROI discussion from cost reduction to value creation in order to create a compelling value proposition that goes beyond typical ROI measurements (see image).
“Building a more comprehensive value narrative may be started by calculating the time savings on code creation,” added Mr. Walsh. “Software engineering leaders should connect value enablers to impacts and then analyze the overall return to the organization to convey the full enterprise value story for AI code assistants.”
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