GitLab’s recent survey, ‘The State of AI in Software Development’, gathered insights from over 1,000 global tech professionals, revealing a mix of enthusiasm and concerns about AI in software development.

Key findings include:

• 83% believe AI is vital for competitiveness.
• 79% are concerned about AI accessing sensitive data.
• 51% see AI as a boost to developer productivity.
• 95% of tech executives prioritize data privacy and intellectual property when choosing AI tools.
• 32% are significantly concerned about integrating AI into the software development process. Of these, 39% worry about AI-generated code’s security vulnerabilities, and 48% question the copyright status of AI-produced code.
• 75% say their organizations offer AI training, but the same percentage seek external resources, indicating potential gaps in training quality.
• 81% feel they need more training on AI, and 65% of those planning to use AI anticipate hiring new talent for its implementation.

David DeSanto, Chief Product Officer at GitLab, emphasized that while AI can enhance productivity in software development, it’s essential to address security, privacy, and training challenges for successful AI integration.