Thoughtworks sheds light on impact of GenAI with latest report

Thoughtworks has released Volume 29 of the Technology Radar, a biannual report informed by Thoughtworks observations, conversations and frontline experiences solving its clients most complex business challenges.

While generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is often posited as a useful tool to make developers more productive, a major theme in the report is what developer productivity really means and how it can be effectively measured.

Far from replacing software developers, Thoughtworks has found that GenAI can provide support across many different facets of the software delivery process.

With tooling here maturing, reflected in a number of related tools in this edition of the Radar moving from Assess to Trial, there are a wealth of opportunities for organisations to explore. However, as with previous advances in tech cloud, continuous delivery, IoT focus is recommended on the responsible application of generative AI and the way it is integrated into processes across the enterprise.

Rachel Laycock, Chief Technology Officer, Thoughtworks, says, "Generative AI is reshaping all kinds of knowledge work, including creating and delivering software solutions faster, better and at lower cost with AI-driven tools and techniques."

"This game-changing technology offers our clients the opportunity to revolutionise their internal operations, allowing for greater overall efficiency, innovation at scale and the delivery of extraordinary impact to their customers."

Highlighted themes in Technology Radar Vol. 29 include:   

• AI-assisted software development: Tools such as Github Copilot, Codeium and Tabnine are set to have an impact on the way software developers think about writing code. However, one key point of consideration is how AI can be used for tasks beyond coding, such as writing user stories. How productive is measuring productivity? Measuring productivity in the sphere of software development isn't a new concern (Thoughtworks Chief Scientist Martin Fowler wrote about it 20 years ago). A number of tools, such as DX DevEX 360, aim to improve the developer experience and point the way forward for supporting developer productivity.
• A large number of LLMs: While the space is largely defined by the contributions of a handful of key players OpenAIs ChatGPT, Google's Bard, Meta's LLaMA of particular interest are trends such as self-hosted LLMs and LLM-powered autonomous agents which point towards greater customisation and control over what can be done with GenAI.
• Remote delivery workarounds mature: It's clear that remote ways of working are now here to stay. Fortunately, we've seen a number of tools and techniques such as remote event storming that suggest we're beginning to see more maturity and stability as teams get used to working in a remote or hybrid manner.

Thoughtworks is a global technology consultancy that integrates strategy, design and engineering to drive digital innovation. The company is made up of 11,500 people across 51 offices in 18 countries. For 30 years, the company has delivered impact with its clients by helping them solve complex business problems with technology as the differentiator.