You’ve no doubt heard about tech professionals turning to generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to learn new things about coding. But are a majority of tech pros actually using AI for programming education? Or are they still relying on tried-and-true methods such as technical documentation and how-to videos?

According to Stack Overflow’s exhaustive Developer Survey, a significant percentage of tech pros are turning to AI for coding tips—but they’re using other methods a lot more. Here’s a chart based on data from 48,822 respondents:

Given all the hype around AI, some folks might wonder why more tech pros haven’t adopted ChatGPT and its ilk as learning tools. Stack Overflow’s survey also found that 31 percent of developers and engineers seem skeptical of AI’s output to some degree; they might not necessarily trust what a chatbot tells them about the nuances of coding.

But looking at it from another angle, AI tools are relatively new and have already surpassed other learning methods as a go-to for curious developers, so maybe generative AI is a trusted teaching partner for developers who want to learn how to code better.

Regardless of your current career path, continuous learning is paramount in the rapidly evolving tech industry. By expanding your skills and knowledge, you'll open doors to new opportunities and advance your career; it’s also critical to stay current about emerging technologies such as AI, as these will inevitably find their way into more organizations’ tech stacks. Employing a variety of learning methods simultaneously—including AI chatbots, training videos, or whatever works for you—you can learn key skills more rapidly.