Stack Overflow, long a key resource for programmers to find answers to complex questions, is facing growing competition from the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT.
Previously, developers actively turned to Stack Overflow to search for solutions to problems that arose during the programming process. However, with the advent of ChatGPT, the situation began to change. This chatbot demonstrates a wonderful ability to quickly generate code, identify and fix bugs, and provide optimized solutions. In addition, ChatGPT can test code, providing instant and accurate responses to queries. In an environment where speed and efficiency become key criteria, a chatbot based on generative AI is emerging as a particularly valuable assistant that seems capable of replacing human experience in this area to some extent.
These changes have not gone unnoticed: already in August, Stack Overflow noted a decrease in traffic to its site, coinciding with an increase in interest in generative AI models. Prashanth Chandrasekar, CEO of Stack Overflow, expressed his concern about the situation. Despite attempts to optimize costs, he had to make the difficult decision to cut almost a third of the company's staff, which would affect about 100 people. Mr. Chandrasekar also mentioned the difficulties associated with the current macroeconomic situation in the IT sector. While he didn't directly address the impact of AI chatbots on platform metrics, the connection between the two seems clear. It's unclear how these changes will affect the future of Stack Overflow. However, despite all the obstacles, the main goal of the company remains the same: to be one of the best expert platforms for programmers, where they can exchange knowledge and experience.