How AI assistance impacts the formation of coding skills \ Anthropic

Anthropic's research investigates how AI assistance impacts the development of coding skills. Their study found that using AI led to a statistically significant decrease in mastery, with participants scoring 17% lower on a quiz compared to those who coded by hand. The research suggests that while AI can speed up tasks, it may hinder skill development, particularly in debugging and understanding code. The way individuals interact with AI, such as using it for conceptual queries or code generation, influences learning outcomes. The study recommends intentional deployment of AI tools to ensure skill development and meaningful oversight.