Seniority, Spillovers, and AI-Enhanced Code Contributions: Evidence from a Large Enterprise

Mingxi Ye; Siyuan Jin; Ziyuan Li; Wei Thoo Yue; Kar Yan Tam

Seniority, Spillovers, and AI-Enhanced Code Contributions: Evidence from a Large Enterprise

Mingxi Ye
, Siyuan Jin
, Ziyuan Li
, Wei Thoo Yue
, Kar Yan Tam

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

Abstract

We examine how seniority and team spillovers influence AI-assisted code contributions in a large enterprise. Using a phased rollout of GitHub Copilot in 2024, we connect daily Copilot usage, GitHub commits, and HR seniority data for 743 active developers from January 2024 to March 2025. Three main findings emerge. First, Copilot adoption correlates with noticeable increases in commits, especially when developers actively use Copilot. Second, senior developers see greater gains than junior developers, which aligns with technology-skill complementarity. Third, junior developers working with senior teammates who actively use Copilot show higher contribution increases, reflecting spillovers from senior teammates. These findings clarify who benefits most from AI coding assistants and guide enterprise AI strategies: promoting senior adoption and pairing juniors with active senior users can boost individual output and spread benefits across teams.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	ICIS 2025 Proceedings
Publication status	Published - Dec 2025
Event	2025 International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS 2025): Achieving Digital Integration in the Age of AI - Omni Nashvile, Nashville, United States Duration: 14 Dec 2025 → 17 Dec 2025 https://icis2025.aisconferences.org/

Publication series

Name	International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS)
ISSN (Electronic)	3067-0896

Conference

Conference	2025 International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS 2025)
Abbreviated title	ICIS 2025
Place	United States
City	Nashville
Period	14/12/25 → 17/12/25
Internet address	https://icis2025.aisconferences.org/

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Research Unit(s) information for this publication is provided by the author(s) concerned.

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https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2025/impl_adopt/impl_adopt/2/

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@inproceedings{180fa25a34594f32a8cfa6ec4f07b1b1,

title = "Seniority, Spillovers, and AI-Enhanced Code Contributions: Evidence from a Large Enterprise",

abstract = "We examine how seniority and team spillovers influence AI-assisted code contributions in a large enterprise. Using a phased rollout of GitHub Copilot in 2024, we connect daily Copilot usage, GitHub commits, and HR seniority data for 743 active developers from January 2024 to March 2025. Three main findings emerge. First, Copilot adoption correlates with noticeable increases in commits, especially when developers actively use Copilot. Second, senior developers see greater gains than junior developers, which aligns with technology-skill complementarity. Third, junior developers working with senior teammates who actively use Copilot show higher contribution increases, reflecting spillovers from senior teammates. These findings clarify who benefits most from AI coding assistants and guide enterprise AI strategies: promoting senior adoption and pairing juniors with active senior users can boost individual output and spread benefits across teams.",

author = "Mingxi Ye and Siyuan Jin and Ziyuan Li and Yue, \{Wei Thoo\} and Tam, \{Kar Yan\}",

note = "Research Unit(s) information for this publication is provided by the author(s) concerned.; 2025 International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS 2025) : Achieving Digital Integration in the Age of AI, ICIS 2025 ; Conference date: 14-12-2025 Through 17-12-2025",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

language = "English",

series = "International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS)",

booktitle = "ICIS 2025 Proceedings",

url = "https://icis2025.aisconferences.org/",

}

Ye, M, Jin, S, Li, Z, Yue, WT & Tam, KY 2025, Seniority, Spillovers, and AI-Enhanced Code Contributions: Evidence from a Large Enterprise. in ICIS 2025 Proceedings., 2, International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS), 2025 International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS 2025), Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 14/12/25. <https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2025/impl_adopt/impl_adopt/2/>

Seniority, Spillovers, and AI-Enhanced Code Contributions: Evidence from a Large Enterprise. / Ye, Mingxi; Jin, Siyuan; Li, Ziyuan et al.
ICIS 2025 Proceedings. 2025. 2 (International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS)).

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Seniority, Spillovers, and AI-Enhanced Code Contributions

T2 - 2025 International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS 2025)

AU - Ye, Mingxi

AU - Jin, Siyuan

AU - Li, Ziyuan

AU - Yue, Wei Thoo

AU - Tam, Kar Yan

N1 - Research Unit(s) information for this publication is provided by the author(s) concerned.

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - We examine how seniority and team spillovers influence AI-assisted code contributions in a large enterprise. Using a phased rollout of GitHub Copilot in 2024, we connect daily Copilot usage, GitHub commits, and HR seniority data for 743 active developers from January 2024 to March 2025. Three main findings emerge. First, Copilot adoption correlates with noticeable increases in commits, especially when developers actively use Copilot. Second, senior developers see greater gains than junior developers, which aligns with technology-skill complementarity. Third, junior developers working with senior teammates who actively use Copilot show higher contribution increases, reflecting spillovers from senior teammates. These findings clarify who benefits most from AI coding assistants and guide enterprise AI strategies: promoting senior adoption and pairing juniors with active senior users can boost individual output and spread benefits across teams.

AB - We examine how seniority and team spillovers influence AI-assisted code contributions in a large enterprise. Using a phased rollout of GitHub Copilot in 2024, we connect daily Copilot usage, GitHub commits, and HR seniority data for 743 active developers from January 2024 to March 2025. Three main findings emerge. First, Copilot adoption correlates with noticeable increases in commits, especially when developers actively use Copilot. Second, senior developers see greater gains than junior developers, which aligns with technology-skill complementarity. Third, junior developers working with senior teammates who actively use Copilot show higher contribution increases, reflecting spillovers from senior teammates. These findings clarify who benefits most from AI coding assistants and guide enterprise AI strategies: promoting senior adoption and pairing juniors with active senior users can boost individual output and spread benefits across teams.

M3 - RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)

T3 - International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS)

BT - ICIS 2025 Proceedings

Y2 - 14 December 2025 through 17 December 2025

ER -

Seniority, Spillovers, and AI-Enhanced Code Contributions: Evidence from a Large Enterprise

Abstract

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