It may be early in the process, but artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to change the way developers and operations teams collaborate with each other, as well as with their business counterparts. Ultimately, this means not only increased productivity, but also increased job satisfaction – and more strategic roles for IT professionals.
Again, we’re just getting started. But a large percentage of IT professionals are already using AI to handle more mundane tasks that take up time they could be worrying about business matters. About 35% see the value of AI in data analysis, and a similar number see it as a way to improve security, according to a recent report from Google Cloud’s DevOps Research and Evaluation (DORA) team. Thirty percent find it useful for analyzing logs or identifying errors, according to an analysis of data from 36,000 technology professionals around the world. At this point, barely more than 20% see its value as an enabler of collaboration. This may change.
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As AI adoption expands across the enterprise, it will help bring teams closer together – by bringing together the necessary high-level work of developers and operations teams, as well as their business-side customers.
“When there is less friction to get work done, teams can respond to requests faster and be more patient with each other,” says Doug Seven, general manager of Amazon CodeWhisperer at Amazon Web Services. “By improving business processes, AI can help teams work toward business goals more closely together. What’s more, increased developer productivity means a shorter time to market and a shorter time to go from idea to product.”
AI enhances productivity, knowledge sharing and collaboration applications “that can automate or simplify tedious and time-consuming work tasks,” Sevin adds. Already, as Google’s survey indicates, developers are scaling up AI to handle tasks like security, log analysis, and bug identification.
By eliminating tedious tasks, AI “allows employees to focus on creativity and empathy,” agrees Vinay Karagopi, director of engagement at Capgemini. “Careful implementation of AI breaks down silos, unites teams, fosters understanding, and addresses concerns empathetically.”
He continues by saying that this brings special skills that go beyond programming, testing and building. “Leaders armed with wisdom and compassion play a vital role in enhancing communications. Thoughtful integration of AI ensures a harmonious work environment.”
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AI-based apps, some of which have been on the market for a long time, “use AI to simplify work tasks and help teams work better together,” Seven says. “AI in apps has been around for a while, but many people didn’t realize that popular tools and experiences were powered by AI until recently when AI became a viral topic.” For example, his company, Amazon, has been developing AI-driven tools for more than two decades, as seen in customer recommendation engines and AI-powered warehouse robots.
However, even with many instances of AI in the field, it will take time for the full impact of AI to be felt within organizations, Karagopi says. “Early applications, such as meeting analysis, are promising, but large-scale transformation is still lagging behind,” he explains. “Leading companies are exploring AI to break down silos, necessitating strategic planning.”
AI proponents also need to be careful as technologies advance. “As generative AI becomes more widely used and users get value, they build trust in the AI,” Seven says. “We want that, but we want to be wary of blind trust. As AI improves, trust is a critical element that can be lost if the AI hallucinates, so AI verification will remain a necessary part of using AI. Businesses, researchers and developers must continue to engage Human oversight to ensure that AI is developed, deployed and used responsibly.
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Additionally, “overreliance on AI risks bias and narrows the scope for automating tasks,” Karajubi says. “Transparency is critical to preventing AI from appearing threatening. Therefore, balancing technological capabilities with human wisdom remains critical in navigating AI’s complexities and realizing its collaborative potential.”
Look at information flow and teamwork as the areas where AI will have the greatest impact. “AI is transforming collaboration by enhancing information flow and teamwork,” says Karajubi. “Tools like meeting transcriptionists and project managers streamline data and enable creative focus. AI assistants automate tasks, freeing up employees for strategic work. Cross-functional data analysis reveals insights, bridges gaps, and AI-based chatbots ensure smooth transitions, unifying teams.” ”
AI “automates tasks, simplifies processes and preserves core values,” Karajubi adds. “AI identifies workflow issues; allowing teams to focus on creativity, innovation, and human judgment remains central, ensuring methodologies are core. Thoughtful integration reduces friction, empowers teams, and maintains unity. Careful adoption ensures a seamless blend of AI capabilities with human ingenuity And unleashing creativity within DevOps and Agile practices.”
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The impact of AI may go deeper than collaboration, Seven says. “In the long term, we will see AI capabilities integrated into all aspects of software development, increasing productivity for everyone on the team, and improving collaboration. AI will accelerate almost all workloads by eliminating undifferentiated heavy lifting, and AI will drive innovation By assisting in the exploratory efforts of development teams. With AI-powered tools, experimentation and innovation will become easier and faster. “We are only seeing the beginning of the benefits of AI.”