Are AI Tools Actually Improving Developer Experience? (Experts Cut Through the Hype)

May 28, 2026

AI tools are spreading across the entire software development lifecycle - but are they actually making developers more productive, or just adding noise?

In this panel from Context Conference, Najla Elmachtoub (Squadformers) moderates a sharp, no-fluff conversation with Nathen Harvey (Google, DORA program), Bill Harding (GitClear), and Jeremy Castile (GitKraken) on what's really working when it comes to AI and developer experience.

They cover:

  • Why adoption metrics like code acceptance rate don't tell you if AI is actually helping
  • How to layer telemetry, surveys, and direct developer feedback for a complete picture
  • Where AI can make the biggest impact beyond just writing code -- from planning to CI/CD to agentic workflows
  • Why a "constellation of metrics" beats any single number (and what that looks like in practice)
  • How to isolate AI's impact from everything else happening in your org
  • Connecting developer experience improvements to business outcomes executives actually care about

Whether you're navigating a top-down AI mandate or trying to make sense of bottoms-up adoption, this conversation gives you the frameworks and honest perspective to move more intentionally.

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