Paper Number
ICIS2025-1162
Paper Type
Short
Abstract
We examine how seniority and team spillovers influence AI-assisted code contributions in a large enterprise. Using a phased rollout of GitHub Copilot in 2024, we connect daily Copilot usage, GitHub commits, and HR seniority data for 743 active developers from January 2024 to March 2025. Three main findings emerge. First, Copilot adoption correlates with noticeable increases in commits, especially when developers actively use Copilot. Second, senior developers see greater gains than junior developers, which aligns with technology-skill complementarity. Third, junior developers working with senior teammates who actively use Copilot show higher contribution increases, reflecting spillovers from senior teammates. These findings clarify who benefits most from AI coding assistants and guide enterprise AI strategies: promoting senior adoption and pairing juniors with active senior users can boost individual output and spread benefits across teams.
Recommended Citation
Ye, Mingxi; Jin, Siyuan; Li, Ziyuan; Yue, Wei Thoo; and Tam, Kar Yan, "Seniority, Spillovers, and AI-Enhanced Code Contributions: Evidence from a Large Enterprise" (2025). ICIS 2025 Proceedings. 2.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2025/impl_adopt/impl_adopt/2
Seniority, Spillovers, and AI-Enhanced Code Contributions: Evidence from a Large Enterprise
We examine how seniority and team spillovers influence AI-assisted code contributions in a large enterprise. Using a phased rollout of GitHub Copilot in 2024, we connect daily Copilot usage, GitHub commits, and HR seniority data for 743 active developers from January 2024 to March 2025. Three main findings emerge. First, Copilot adoption correlates with noticeable increases in commits, especially when developers actively use Copilot. Second, senior developers see greater gains than junior developers, which aligns with technology-skill complementarity. Third, junior developers working with senior teammates who actively use Copilot show higher contribution increases, reflecting spillovers from senior teammates. These findings clarify who benefits most from AI coding assistants and guide enterprise AI strategies: promoting senior adoption and pairing juniors with active senior users can boost individual output and spread benefits across teams.
When commenting on articles, please be friendly, welcoming, respectful and abide by the AIS eLibrary Discussion Thread Code of Conduct posted here.
Comments
14-Implementation