New research from CodeSignal and Legit finds that consumers grossly underestimate the frequency with which Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used to create the apps and tools they use daily.
CodeSignal found that 81% of the developers it surveyed reported using AI-powered coding assistants; 49% used them daily, and 39% used them weekly. Of the 400 security professionals and developers surveyed by Legit, 96% reported that their companies utilized GenAI-based solutions for building or delivering applications. Almost 90% said they use AI coding assistants.
Most consumers would be surprised by these findings. According to another survey, only 22% believe an average mobile app’s code is mostly AI-generated. The remainder, 78%, believe that developers write at least half of the code. Almost one-third, 29% admit not knowing how these things are even built.
The implications are significant, as roughly 25% said such knowledge would reduce their trust (34% of Gen Z said it would increase their trust). Almost half, 47%, say they are very concerned about AI in apps.
Legit’s Suzanne Ciccone wrote that a design shift is well underway.
“In addition, software itself is now different thanks to this shift – AI is part of the application architecture,” she said. “Every software product today has some AI component that is fetching data or communicating with other tools.”
“Those in the tech industry are well aware of this shift, and most are aware of the risks involved. But what about those outside the tech world? Are they aware? Concerned? They are most definitely purchasing and interacting with applications developed with AI. Do they know this? Should they?”
Relevant data:
- 31% say sensitive data requests top their lists of concerns.
- 53% say appearance in official stores indicates strong security, 46% say privacy policies, and 45% say well-known brands.
- Privacy policy (63%) is the most influential for Boomers, availability in an official store is most influential for Gen X (53%) and Millennials (52%), and a well-known brand (50%) is most influential for Gen Z
- Professional design makes 42% of Millennials and Gen Z believe an app is secure; only 16% of Boomers agree.
Learn more in Ciccone’s recent post.
