Authors: Anne Herfurth, Munsif Sokiyna, Pratyush Nidhi Sharma
The integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools in software
development is reshaping the open source software (OSS) ecosystem, yet their impact on OSS contributor motivations remains understudied. This research explores how GenAI tools affect OSS contributors’ motivations through the lens of Self-Determination Theory. We conducted semi-structured interviews with experienced OSS contributors across different projects, employing thematic analysis to uncover GenAI’s diverse effects on developers’ sense of competence, autonomy, and relatedness. Developer tenure and motivation source (intrinsic vs. extrinsic) emerged as key moderators. Our findings led to the development of four distinct developer personas: the Code Enthusiast, the Milestone Seeker, the Craft Refiner, and the Efficiency Driver. While GenAI can enhance productivity and autonomy, it also raises concerns about skill dependency and alters community dynamics by reducing routine interactions. This study contributes to understanding human-AI collaboration in knowledge work, offering insights for OSS project management, AI tool design, and strategies for sustaining OSS communities in an AI-enhanced ecosystem.
