Developers utilizing AI tools are facing heightened challenges in their workflows, according to the 2026 State of DevOps Modernization report by Harness. The findings indicate that while these tools can accelerate code deployment, they also significantly increase workloads and complicate the software development process. Notably, 69% of frequent AI users reported more deployment issues when relying on AI-generated code.
The report highlights that 45% of developers who frequently use AI coding tools are able to deploy code faster than those who use them less often. However, this speed comes at a price, with 58% of respondents expressing concerns about the associated risks. Harness CTO Martin Reynolds noted that the rapid pace of development is outstripping traditional processes designed for human speed, leading to unresolved edge cases and bugs.
As a result, nearly 47% of frequent AI users find tasks such as quality assurance and validation increasingly difficult. The report also highlights a notable increase in remediation times, with teams using AI averaging 7.6 hours to resolve production incidents, compared to 6.3 hours for less frequent users. Reynolds emphasized the need for a solid foundation in DevOps practices before the integration of AI technologies.