{
  "id": 2611803,
  "title": "'I can't stop': 80% of developers find AI coding more addictive than helpful",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/i-cant-stop-80-of-developers-find-ai-coding-more-addictive-than",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-22T16:24:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ZDNet",
    "slug": "zdnet",
    "url": "https://www.zdnet.com/article/i-cant-stop-80-of-developers-find-ai-coding-more-addictive-than-helpful/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A ZDNET report reveals that 80% of developers find AI coding tools more addictive than beneficial. Coding speed can suffer due to delays in fixing AI-generated code, leading to programmer workaholism and burnout. AI-powered coding tools like GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, and Cursor enable developers to generate code faster, but many are discovering the same tools can be a source of misery. AI-induced workaholism stems from the dopamine rush when the AI gets things right and the adrenaline rush when it fails. CTO and co-founder of Rootly, Quentin Rousseau, admitted he couldn't sleep due to AI's addictive nature. This new kind of burnout is different from traditional programmer workaholism. A Coddy Tech survey found that 80% of developers feel their AI use feels more like dependence than advantage. 43% of developers keep coding after hours, and 32% have put off sleep to continue working. Over a third of developers claim AI tools have made it harder to switch off from work. Heavy AI use increases the likelihood of getting a raise or promotion but also raises the risk of burnout. AI's quick output creates a verification debt, as developers must still understand requirements, validate generated code, and manage production consequences. The pressure to ship more features due to employer interpretation of AI-driven output can exacerbate this issue.",
  "summary": "A Coddy Developer Survey revealed that AI coding is leading to a new kind of burnout.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "ZDNet",
        "title": "80% of developers find AI coding more addictive than helpful",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/80-of-developers-find-ai-coding-more-addictive-than-helpful",
        "published": "2026-08-21T19:30:22.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}