Paper Type
Short
Paper Number
PACIS2025-1336
Description
This paper aims to understand the interaction between developers and Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) using a workflow perspective. We interviewed 19 developers who use GenAI tools in their daily work. Through preliminary analysis, we identified three distinct developer-AI workflows and the work activities where GenAI assists within each workflow. We visualized these workflows taking conversational assistance type GenAI as an example and explained the decision points and iterative interactions that characterize developer-GenAI collaboration. By shifting the focus from individual tasks to the broader workflow, this research provides a comprehensive understanding of how GenAI integrates into developers’ work in a real-world context. The findings offer valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of human-AI collaboration and inform the design of more effective and sustainable human-AI workflows in the context of software development.
Recommended Citation
Lin, Wanxuan; Chiu, Yi-Te; Cranefield, Jocelyn; and Ekandjo, Talitakuum A.T., "Developer-GenAI Collaboration: Understanding Workflow Dynamics for Sustainable Human-AI Interaction" (2025). PACIS 2025 Proceedings. 3.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/pacis2025/is_design/isdesign/3
Developer-GenAI Collaboration: Understanding Workflow Dynamics for Sustainable Human-AI Interaction
This paper aims to understand the interaction between developers and Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) using a workflow perspective. We interviewed 19 developers who use GenAI tools in their daily work. Through preliminary analysis, we identified three distinct developer-AI workflows and the work activities where GenAI assists within each workflow. We visualized these workflows taking conversational assistance type GenAI as an example and explained the decision points and iterative interactions that characterize developer-GenAI collaboration. By shifting the focus from individual tasks to the broader workflow, this research provides a comprehensive understanding of how GenAI integrates into developers’ work in a real-world context. The findings offer valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of human-AI collaboration and inform the design of more effective and sustainable human-AI workflows in the context of software development.
Comments
Design