AI coding tools cost $19-$200/month/user, but security scanning, remediation, and false positives add hidden costs. Are the productivity gains worth it?
July 10, 2026
AI coding tools have changed the software development world in a few short years, but security risks and rising costs associated with AI-generated code mean organizations should consider their potential return on investment (ROI) before jumping into the deep end.
That said, many organizations have already entered the deep end. According to GitLab's 2026 AI Accountability Report published last month, 91% of organizations are using two or more coding tools, and 54% use three or more. Depending on which study you look at, results vary a bit. A Black Duck survey found AI code enterprise adoption had reached 97%. The Futurum Group said 76.6% of organizations are actively using AI in software development workflows, while another 20.4% are evaluating.
In enterprise development, AI is often used to automate some of the more boilerplate, repetitive tasks developers have to contend with at work. Large language models (LLMs) can also be used to test for vulnerabilities and general code integrity, but that's not all. Some individuals choose to vibe code, which refers to the practice of using natural language to code software nearly, or entirely, wholesale. Those who vibe code may not necessarily understand how to program or how computer code works.
