arxivcs.HCcs.SE2026-07-01
You Shall Not Pass! Where and Why Developers Draw The Line on AI Autonomy
Rudrajit Choudhuri, Christian Bird, Carmen Badea, Marco Gerosa, Anita Sarma
As AI takes on more software work, the line between human and AI effort is shifting. Where developers draw that line around AI autonomy bears on how we design tools and roles that preserve meaningful work. Drawing on cognitive appraisal theory, work design, and automation researc…