Disruption of the research software landscape through AI software generation

TL;DR - This Nature Methods article argues that LLM-assisted programming could let researchers rapidly build specialized software without dedicated software engineers. The shift may lower development barriers but introduces risks that require careful management.

• LLM code generation can reduce the cost and time needed to create research tools.
• A single LLM-assisted developer rapidly built the article’s example software.
• Broader access to software creation could reshape traditional research engineering roles and workflows.
• The article discusses both opportunities and risks rather than reporting comparative performance results.