Responsible AI-Assisted Technical Leadership (RATL)

AI tools are changing how we write code and analyse data. While these tools can bring many benefits, their ad hoc adoption risks unintended consequences. In particular, the contributions of technical leaders - those who guide projects to technical success - may be undervalued or become less visible, affecting career satisfaction and progression.

This project investigates how AI can be integrated into code development workflows responsibly. We aim to understand:

1. How can technical leaders use AI tools without compromising code quality, professional skills and job satisfaction?
2. How can time savings be used wisely to enhance the visibility and impact of our uniquely human contributions to research projects?

To support this, we will (i) produce clear, practical guidance on responsible AI-assisted development and (ii) design, pilot and evaluate a structured template for AI-assisted projects. This template will set out opportunities in the development workflow to use AI (e.g. planning, testing or code review) and paired strategies to mitigate negative effects, such as targeted human-led code inspections or increased in-person collaboration.

By starting a cross-community conversation, this work will help dRTP leaders adopt AI thoughtfully and intentionally. The goal is to ensure that the role of technical leaders remains recognised and valued.