DEVOPSdigest

A striking 64% of those surveyed for the Docker AI Trends Report 2024 report are leveraging AI for tasks like coding, documentation, and research, highlighting AI's deep penetration into the development process.

"Docker's AI Trends Report 2024 clearly demonstrates that AI is not merely a trend but a fundamental shift in software development," said Nahid Samsami, vice president of Developer Experience at Docker. "These findings are a first in a series of insights that Docker will share over the coming months and we're excited to share more. These insights validate our direction and fuel our mission to provide powerful, intuitive solutions that support developers in this rapidly evolving ecosystem."

Key Findings:

AI is not a Threat

Fewer respondents see AI as a job threat (23%) or complicating their jobs (19%).

Perception of AI

65% view AI positively, citing easier job processes (61%) and focus on crucial tasks (55%). However, there was also a cautionary note on the hype surrounding AI, with 45% of respondents feeling that AI might be overemphasized in the industry.

AI in Everyday Development Activities

Developers are leveraging AI chiefly for coding, documentation, and research purposes, underscoring AI's role in optimizing essential facets of the development cycle. 64% use AI for work, mainly for coding (33% of respondents), documentation (29%), research (28%), writing tests (23%), and troubleshooting/debugging (21%).

Rising Reliance on AI

More junior back-end and full-stack developers (less than five years of experience) report a significantly greater dependence on AI tools compared to their more experienced counterparts (approximately 4 out of 10 reported reliance versus 2.5 out of 10). This may indicate an increasing reliance on AI among the next generation of developers and specialized technical roles.

Methodology: Over 1,300 developers were surveyed towards the end of 2023. Out of the 1,300 participants, 885 successfully completed the survey. The insights discussed in this report are derived from the responses of these 885 participants.