Stack Overflow, once a dominant programmer Q&A platform, faces a critical decline as monthly question submissions plummet from over 200,000 in 2014 to under 50,000 by late 2025. This downturn follows the acquisition by Prosus in June 2021, just before the steepest decline began. The introduction of AI tools, notably ChatGPT, reshaped developer workflows, allowing 84% of programmers to use AI for coding tasks directly within their environments. The 2025 Developer Survey revealed a marked shift in community engagement, with 51% of professional developers using AI daily. Traditional moderation policies, perceived as unwelcoming, further diminished user participation. Despite Stack Overflow’s historical significance, its role as a primary resource is increasingly threatened by AI, which provides immediate answers drawn from its content without redirecting users to the site. The platform must adapt or risk extinction as developers gravitate towards more interactive and conversational solutions.
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