When Feelings Meet Code: How Generative AI Affects the Emotions of Developers

Philippe Jacquemin, Miriam Gräf, Kristin Bauch, Avleen Kaur and Maren F. Mehler

Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) from Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL)

Abstract: Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is transforming professional workflows, particularly in programming, where tools like ChatGPT assist with code generation, debugging, and explanations. While GenAI enhances performance, concerns about the implications for well-being and emotions while working with GenAI persist. Especially emotions in terms of positive and negative feelings play a crucial role, influencing how effectively GenAI is utilized in professional settings. Our research explores the impact of GenAI on emotions of employees in a programming context. We conducted an online experiment with 161 Python programmers, assessing performance and positive and negative feelings with and without ChatGPT assistance on two different programming tasks by performing paired t-tests and a structural model analysis. The findings indicate that ChatGPT not only significantly improves performance but also demonstrates a link between positive emotions and enhanced outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of technical and emotional factors in maximizing the potential of human-AI collaboration.

Date: 2025-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp
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