METR AI Coding Research Inconclusive Because Dev Participants Refused to Complete Tasks Without AI

submitted by brianpeiris to programming 31 points | 8 comments https://metr.org/blog/2026-02-24-uplift-update/ > Selected developer quotes: > “I’m torn. I’d like to help provide updated data on this question but also I really like using AI!” — a developer from the original study early-2025 when asked to participate in the late-2025 study. > “I found I am actually heavily biased sampling the issues … I avoid issues like AI can finish things in just 2 hours, but I have to spend 20 hours. I will feel so painful if the task is decided as AI-disallowed.” — a developer from the new study noting selection effects when choosing what tasks to include in the study. > “my head’s going to explode if I try to do too much the old fashioned way because it’s like trying to get across the city walking when all of a sudden I was more used to taking an Uber.” — a developer from the new study noting selection effects when choosing what tasks to include in the study.