Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly become the standard in software development, but does it really increase developer productivity and code quality?
According to the newly released 2025 DORA Report from Google’s DevOps Research and Assessment team, AI adoption is reshaping productivity, team culture, and software delivery. AI is not just a game-changer; it’s a magnifying glass. Top-performing DevOps teams become more productive, while struggling teams see their challenges amplified.
In other words, successful AI adoption isn’t just about tools; it’s systemic.
AI in Software Development: Insights from the 2025 DORA Report
AI is ubiquitous in the technology industry; 90% of respondents report using AI in their daily software development work, and 65% of those professionals say they are heavily reliant on AI tools. When confronted with a problem at work, 60% report using AI to solve that problem at least half the time.
For the most part, these respondents feel that AI has improved the quality of their work; 80% believe they are more productive.
However, despite the fact that AI is overwhelmingly used to write new code, about 30% of respondents have little to no trust in the code generated by AI tools. The DORA report highlights that these contradictions are often the result of adopting AI without systems, workflows, or strategies in place.
DORA 2025: Why AI Adoption Requires Strategy, Not Just Tools
The most successful organizations lay a foundation for their AI use: internal platforms, policies, clear workflows, and strong communication around AI.
When AI tools are adopted without a strategy, organizations are less likely to see benefits. While individual developers might feel more productive, they are not aligned with the rest of the organization.
The 2025 DORA Report introduces the DORA AI Capabilities Model, a framework that includes seven systemic factors proven to amplify AI adoption success:
- Clear and communicated AI stance
- Healthy data ecosystems
- AI-accessible internal data
- Strong version control practices
- User-centric focus
- Quality internal platforms
- Working in small batches
These seven capabilities span both the technical and cultural aspects of an organization. By aligning with the DORA AI Capabilities Model, teams can ensure AI adoption improves productivity rather than hinders it.
How the DORA Report Links AI and Team Performance
AI is still new, and organizations are experimenting with its use. The 2025 DORA Report finds a clear pattern: teams with a user-centric focus experience the strongest performance gains from AI adoption.
Without this focus, AI adoption can even have a negative impact on performance.
This means it’s vital for organizations of all sizes to understand their users’ needs and integrate AI in ways that enhance user experience and feedback.
Read the 2025 DORA Report Now
The DORA report is the annual DevOps Research and Assessment study from Google Cloud. This year’s edition examines the state of AI-assisted software development. Findings were drawn from more than 100 hours of qualitative data and nearly 5,000 survey responses from technology professionals worldwide.
Opsera has sponsored the DORA report for three years, and is proud to be a gold sponsor of the 2025 edition.
Start putting the DORA insights into practice.
Download the 2025 DORA Report on AI in software development today.
