Google study finds 90 per cent of tech workers now use AI in daily work
For Kenya’s growing tech ecosystem, the question is not if AI will reshape the sector, but how quickly it will redefine essential skills.
The vast majority of technology professionals worldwide now use artificial intelligence in their daily work, according to a new Google report highlighting how rapidly AI tools have become integral to software development.
The study, conducted by Google’s DevOps Research and Assessment (DORA) division, surveyed 5,000 tech workers globally and found that 90 per cent use AI at work, a 14 per cent increase from last year.
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Most AI use focuses on writing, testing, and modifying code, as well as automating documentation and other repetitive tasks.
At Google, AI has become “unavoidable”. Ryan Salva, who leads the company’s Gemini Code Assist program, told CNN that “the vast majority” of engineering teams at Google now rely on AI daily.
“If you are an engineer at Google, it is unavoidable that you will be using AI as part of your daily work,” Salva said.
However, while usage is widespread, confidence in AI’s quality remains mixed.
46 per cent of respondents “somewhat” trust AI-generated code, 23 per cent trust it “a little” and only 20 per cent trust it “a lot.” About 31 per cent say AI has slightly improved code quality, but 30 per cent report no impact.
Salva described current AI coding tools as being at a “stage three to four” out of five: powerful enough to troubleshoot across systems but still requiring close human oversight and “lots of safety nets”.
The report comes amid debate over AI’s impact on jobs. Some experts warn that AI could increase unemployment. Job listings for software engineers on freelance platforms fell 71 per cent between February 2022 and August 2025, with rising unemployment among new computer science graduates.
In Kenya, entry-level developers face challenges securing roles as companies automate routine tasks.
Nairobi-based graduate Charles Mwangi told The Eastleigh Voice he sent over 150 job applications before landing a job, noting AI has become an unavoidable part of coding work.
“People often think tech is a safe space to run to, not realising that the challenges here are just as tough as in other sectors. The difference is that in tech it’s much easier to be replaced by machines,” he explained.
Like many of his peers, Mwangi has already started incorporating AI tools into his workflow. While he does not rely on them fully, he admits they have become hard to avoid.
“I admit I also use AI for coding sometimes, not entirely, but yes, it’s already happening,” he added, noting that the shift is changing how developers work and how companies view entry-level talent.
Global tech giants like Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic compete in AI-assisted coding, alongside startups attracting significant investment. Subscription costs for AI coding tools can reach up to Sh7,000 per month.
For Kenya’s growing tech ecosystem, the question is not if AI will reshape the sector, but how quickly it will redefine essential skills.
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