A Preliminary Study on the Impact of AI in the Creativity and Collaboration in Software Teams

2026-07-18

AI Summary

This study investigates the impact of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools on team creativity and collaboration in software development—a domain inherently collaborative yet increasingly mediated by individually oriented AI technologies. Through semi-structured interviews with 13 software engineers across four companies, the research employs qualitative thematic analysis to uncover an emergent triadic collaboration paradigm among developers, colleagues, and AI. Findings reveal that while GenAI expands avenues for idea generation, it may concurrently suppress independent ideation; developers often prioritize consulting AI over seeking input from teammates, thereby diminishing peer learning opportunities. Crucially, affective dynamics serve as a pivotal cross-cutting dimension, permeating both creative and collaborative processes. These insights offer theoretical and practical implications for understanding how AI reshapes collaborative mechanisms within real-world software engineering teams.

Abstract

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools are reshaping software engineering work, increasingly acting as cognitive partners rather than purely instrumental aids. Most AI tooling remains optimized for individual use, yet software development is inherently collaborative and creative, raising open questions about how AI affects team-based work. This paper examines how software engineering professionals perceive and integrate AI tools focusing on creativity and collaboration within teams. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 software professionals from four companies, each representing a distinct team. Our analysis identifies three central themes - AI Use, Consequences of AI, and Collaboration and Team Dynamics, alongside Emotions as a cross-cutting dimension. Key findings include: AI broadens developers' creative repertoires but may narrow independent ideation; developers increasingly consult AI instead of colleagues, weakening peer learning and mentoring; and teams are developing emerging triadic collaboration patterns in which developers, colleagues, and AI reason together.

Problem

• Generative AI
• software teams
• creativity
• collaboration
• team dynamics

Innovation

• Generative AI
• software teams
• collaboration
• creativity
• triadic collaboration