The Most Popular AI Tools: What Developers Use and Why | The JetBrains AI Blog

AI tools have become integral to modern software development, seamlessly integrating into developers' workflows from coding and refactoring to documentation and testing. These tools, which were once experimental, are now essential, used by developers to streamline processes and maintain code quality as projects grow. According to the JetBrains State of Developer Ecosystem Report 2025, AI tools such as GitHub Copilot, JetBrains AI Assistant, and Tabnine are widely adopted, with developers choosing tools based on integration quality, code accuracy, and privacy. Regional preferences vary, with North America favoring mainstream tools and China leveraging domestic models. Despite their widespread use, privacy and security concerns remain significant barriers to adoption. Developers desire tools that offer higher code quality, deeper IDE integration, and better privacy controls, indicating an expectation for AI tools to evolve into more reliable and collaborative partners. As these tools advance, they are shifting from being seen as futuristic possibilities to indispensable elements of the software development process.