The New Reality of Software Development: AI's Impact on Code Quality

Software Architecture Insights

The increasing use of AI in software development has led to significant changes in the industry, with 62% of developers now utilizing AI tools. While this has enhanced productivity, it has also resulted in greater code complexity and a decline in code quality. Recent findings from the 2025 GitClear AI Code Quality Research report reveal alarming trends: as AI usage rises, so does the duplication of code, leading to more time spent on refactoring rather than creating new code. This shift indicates a troubling pattern where the ability to manage and simplify complex systems is becoming more critical than simply writing new code. In this discussion, we will explore these challenges and the importance of maintaining high code quality in an AI-driven environment.

The landscape of software development has notably transformed in 2024, with 62% of developers now leveraging AI in their workflows. While this integration has significantly boosted productivity, it has also raised concerns regarding code quality and complexity. The discussion reflects on findings from the recent 2025 GitClear AI Code Quality Research report, which analyzed over 211 million lines of code and revealed a troubling trend: as AI usage increases, so does the complexity of software systems. Developers are now dedicating more time to refactoring existing code rather than creating new features. This shift highlights a critical issue in the industry: as AI generates more code, it often leads to duplication and violates the fundamental principle of not repeating oneself. Consequently, the reliance on AI tools may inadvertently increase maintenance challenges and bug vulnerability, requiring developers to adapt their roles and focus on system-level understanding and refactoring expertise to ensure sustainable software development practices.

Takeaways:

• In 2024, 62% of professional developers are using AI in their development process, significantly impacting productivity.
• The increased use of AI has led to more complex code and larger codebases, affecting overall code quality.
• Developers are now spending more time refactoring existing code rather than writing new features, which alters their workflow.
• The 2025 GitClear report shows a troubling rise in code duplication as AI-generated code becomes more common.
• AI coding tools struggle to understand the full context of projects, leading to increased code duplication and complexity.
• To address these challenges, organizations must focus on long-term maintainability, including reducing duplication and improving test coverage.

Links referenced in this episode:

• softwarearchitectureinsights.com
• 2025 GitClear AI Code Quality Research Report