AI ASSISTANTS IN PROGRAMMING: MULTIDIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OFUSEFULNESS, CHANGES IN WORK ATTITUDES, AND FUTURE EXPECTATIONS FOR DEVELOPERS IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
AI ASSISTANTS IN PROGRAMMING: MULTIDIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OFUSEFULNESS, CHANGES IN WORK ATTITUDES, AND FUTURE EXPECTATIONS FOR DEVELOPERS IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

Summary/Abstract: This study provides a comprehensive multidimensional analysis of the use and perceived impact of AI assistants in software development among full-time software developers working in software development companies in the Republic of Serbia. Drawing on empirical data from software developers, the study explores three key dimensions: the perceived usefulness of AI assistants, developers’ evolving attitudes toward their work and professional growth, and their expectations regarding the future demand for programmers, all within the context of the increasingly widespread adoption of AI assistants for coding. Through the application of inferential statistical methods, the study identifies significant relationships among indicators pertaining to these dimensions, and examines how the perceived impact of AI tools varies in relation to developers’ expertise levels and the sizes of the companies in which they are employed. The findings reveal distinct patterns in developers’ attitudes toward AI assistants across different levels of expertise, indicating that mid-level developers may represent the most sensitive group in terms of perceived impact. Within the framework of company size, operationalized through the number of employees, freelancers constituted a uniquely positioned subgroup. Additionally, the findings highlight a significant reciprocal relationship between programmers’ emotional engagement, motivation for professional development, and their expectations regarding future demand for software engineers.

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