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AI slows down some experienced software developers, study finds

In early 2025, METR, an AI research nonprofit, found that using Cursor slowed experienced developers working on familiar open-source codebases.
The slowdown stemmed from developers spending extra time reviewing and correcting AI suggestions, which were often directionally correct but not exact, leading to increased review overhead.
METR's study shows AI increased developers' task time by 19%, while they believed they were 20% faster, highlighting a significant perception-performance gap.
METR's study challenges the belief that AI always boosts productivity, urging development of new impact metrics, though authors warn results may vary over time and scenarios.
Joel Becker and Nate Rush of METR caution that AI slowdown effects may not occur with junior engineers or in unfamiliar codebases, highlighting the need for scenario-specific tool use.

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