  This paper illustrates how generative AI could give opportunities for big
productivity gains but also opens up questions about the impact of these new
powerful technologies on the way we work and share knowledge. More
specifically, we explore how ChatGPT changed a fundamental aspect of coding:
problem-solving. To do so, we exploit the effect of the sudden release of
ChatGPT on the 30th of November 2022 on the usage of the largest online
community for coders: Stack Overflow. Using quasi-experimental methods
(Difference-in-Difference), we find a significant drop in the number of
questions. In addition, the questions are better documented after the release
of ChatGPT. Finally, we find evidence that the remaining questions are more
complex. These findings suggest not only productivity gains but also a
fundamental change in the way we work where routine inquiries are solved by AI
allowing humans to focus on more complex tasks.
