Better AI models enable more ambitious work

The study conducted in collaboration with Professor Suproteem Sarkar from the University of Chicago examines how advancements in AI models, specifically the releases of Opus 4.5 and GPT-5.2, impact developer work habits across 500 companies from July 2025 to March 2026. The research highlights a significant increase in AI usage, marked by a 44% rise in average weekly messages per user, which aligns with a Jevons-like effect where efficiency gains lead to increased consumption. Initially, developers used the improved models to perform more tasks of similar complexity, but after 4–6 weeks, they began tackling more complex tasks, with high-complexity messages growing by 68%. The shift in task distribution indicates a move towards managing AI-generated output, with substantial increases in documentation, architecture, code review, and learning, while simpler tasks saw less growth. The study suggests that while AI facilitates existing work, it also opens up new productive opportunities, particularly in industries like finance, media, and advertising, where competitive pressures and new opportunities drive adoption.

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