Indian developers save 10 hours weekly with AI tools, outpacing global average by nearly 3 hours: BairesDev report

Indian developers lead in AI adoption and upskilling, spending five hours weekly on learning—mainly via YouTube and on-the-job training—yet 72% fear falling behind, with 48% prioritising AI upskilling over DevOps and cloud technologies

Indian software developers are leveraging AI tools more effectively than their global peers, saving an average of 10 hours per week on coding tasks—equivalent to an entire workday. This insight comes from the inaugural edition of BairesDev’s Dev Barometer Q3 2025, a global survey of over 1,100 senior software developers and 50 project managers across 63 countries and more than 100 industries.

The report highlights that Indian developers are not only ahead in AI adoption but also in upskilling efforts. On average, they spend five hours per week learning about AI—one hour more than the global average. Despite this enthusiasm, 72% of Indian developers still worry about falling behind in AI skills.

Informal learning, high impact

Self-learning is the dominant approach among Indian developers, with 56% turning to YouTube tutorials and an equal percentage learning on the job. Only 14% engage in formal training, while 11% participate in vendor-led bootcamps. Nearly half (48%) of Indian developers aim to upskill in AI and machine learning over the next quarter—more than double those prioritising DevOps and cloud technologies.

AI tools are not just saving time—they’re improving the quality of work. About 43% of Indian developers report that more than a quarter of their code is now written with AI assistance. An overwhelming 92% say AI tools have enhanced their work, citing faster coding (67%), improved code quality (43%), and higher productivity (38%). Additionally, 81% feel AI makes their work more fulfilling, while 88% believe it opens up new career paths through automation and advanced workflows.

Enterprises still lagging behind

Despite the rapid individual adoption of AI, many businesses are slow to adapt. According to project managers globally, 64% of AI projects remain in the exploratory stage, with only 3% fully integrated into delivery pipelines. In India, top barriers include data privacy concerns (62%), outdated legacy systems (50%), and unclear client policies (52%).

“Developers are racing ahead, but companies need to catch up,” said Nacho De Marco, CEO and Co-Founder of BairesDev. “Upskilling and AI integration are no longer optional—they’re essential for staying competitive.”