How Microsoft Developers Save Hours with AI
Developers at Microsoft and beyond are turning to AI tools like GitHub Copilot to cut down on busywork and focus on what matters. These tools, built by Microsoft through its ownership of GitHub, help automate code suggestions and debugging, directly boosting how much work gets done in less time. See The Verge’s coverage on how Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella described AI integration in development.
The Impact on Task Speed
GitHub ran an experiment where developers tackled real coding tasks with and without Copilot. Those using the AI finished 55% faster on average. For a typical task that might take 30 minutes without help, that’s a drop to about 13 or 14 minutes—saving around 16 minutes each time.
Scale that up: If a developer handles 10 such tasks a day, Copilot could shave off over two hours. The full study details this in their research report, showing clear gains in speed without sacrificing code quality.
- Tasks completed faster by 55%, per GitHub’s controlled tests.
- Developers accepted AI suggestions 30% more often, speeding up the process.
- Overall, this translates to more productive hours in a standard workday.
You can read the full breakdown in GitHub’s research on Copilot’s productivity effects.
Real-World Use at Microsoft
Microsoft integrates Copilot across its developer tools, from Visual Studio to Azure. Teams report using it for everything from writing boilerplate code to refactoring. One internal example from Microsoft’s engineering groups shows devs reclaiming time for creative problem-solving instead of routine typing.
Productivity here isn’t just about speed—it’s about fewer errors and quicker iterations. A developer might save an hour or two daily on debugging alone, based on how Copilot flags issues early. Microsoft’s own docs highlight these wins in their developer productivity guides.
Check out Microsoft’s overview in their blog post on GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio, where they discuss time savings for everyday coding.
Bottom line: AI like this is changing how Microsoft developers work, turning hours of grind into focused output.
