Stack Overflow’s recent survey of 49,000 professional developers reveals a complex relationship between developers and AI coding tools, highlighting both benefits and frustrations associated with integrating AI into developer workflows.
The survey found that a significant majority, four in five developers, are utilizing AI tools in their workflow as of 2025, indicating a rapid adoption of AI in the software development landscape. However, this widespread adoption is coupled with a decrease in confidence regarding the accuracy of these tools. Trust in AI accuracy has fallen from 40 percent in previous years to 29 percent this year.
According to the Stack Overflow survey, the most prominent frustration, cited by 45 percent of respondents, centers on “AI solutions that are almost right, but not quite.” This issue stems from the nature of predictive technology, where outputs may appear correct but contain subtle errors that can lead to debugging challenges. Unlike outputs that are clearly wrong, these near-misses can introduce insidious bugs or other problems that are difficult to immediately identify and relatively time-consuming to troubleshoot, especially for junior developers who approached the work with a false sense of confidence thanks to their reliance on AI.
The consequences of these inaccuracies are evident in the increased reliance on resources like Stack Overflow. Over a third of the developers surveyed reported that some of their visits to Stack Overflow are a result of AI-related issues. This indicates that code suggestions accepted from LLM-based tools are introducing problems that require external assistance to resolve. Even with recent advancements in reasoning-optimized models, the inherent unreliability of AI tools remains a concern.
Despite the skepticism and frustration, developers continue to use AI tools for various reasons. In some instances, managers encourage or require their use. However, more commonly, developers find these tools beneficial when applied appropriately. The key lies in understanding the best practices and limitations of AI tools and integrating them into the workflow with proper training. This ensures that the tools are used effectively and do not create more problems than they solve or waste more time than they save.
The survey also sheds light on how developers can leverage AI tools effectively. Rather than blindly accepting autocomplete suggestions, developers should treat them as a starting point and critically evaluate the output. AI tools can be valuable for tasks such as identifying problems or suggesting more elegant solutions, but they should not be relied upon for complete methods without careful consideration.
Another area where AI tools can be beneficial is in learning new languages, frameworks, or methodologies. LLMs can reduce friction in the learning process by providing targeted answers to questions, which is particularly helpful when navigating through often incomplete technical documentation. This aligns with the traditional role of Stack Overflow as a resource for developers seeking solutions and guidance.
Stack Overflow acknowledges the impact of AI on its platform and is committed to addressing the challenges and opportunities it presents. According to Stack Overflow Chief Product and Technology Officer Jody Bailey, “Although we have seen a decline in traffic, in no way is it as dramatic as some would indicate.” The company plans to allocate resources to expand AI tool literacy and foster community discussions to help solve issues specific to workflows that involve these tools.
The survey also addressed the concept of “vibe coding,” with 72 percent of participants stating that it is not part of their professional work. This suggests that developers prioritize reliability and avoid practices that could introduce hard-to-debug issues, particularly in production environments.
In conclusion, the Stack Overflow developer survey highlights the evolving relationship between developers and AI coding tools. While the adoption of these tools is widespread, trust in their accuracy is declining, and developers are grappling with the challenges of integrating them effectively into their workflows. By promoting AI tool literacy and fostering community discussions, Stack Overflow aims to help developers navigate the complexities of AI and harness its potential while mitigating its risks.
