Devin, the viral coding AI agent, has a new pay-as-you-go plan

Devin AI offers new $20 plan with pay-per-use model, improving its coding aid features.

: Cognition has introduced a $20 entry-level plan for its Devin AI, with a pay-as-you-go feature, after raising significant capital. Initially priced at $500 a month, Devin quickly gained attention for its software development capabilities but had limitations with complex tasks. The updated Devin 2.0 enhances productivity, now allowing users to generate project plans, answer coding queries, and create documentation. However, caution is advised as studies show AI tools like Devin can introduce bugs and vulnerabilities.

Cognition, the company behind the AI programming tool Devin, has launched a new pricing model aimed at both individuals and teams seeking software development assistance. The tool initially generated significant online attention due to its capacity to autonomously handle certain programming tasks. However, Devin struggled with complex tasks, resulting in mixed reviews. Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity, praised Devin which helped Cognition elevate its status.

Originally offered at $500 per month, Devin's cost limited widespread adoption. Recently, after acquiring substantial investment, Cognition introduced a more affordable base plan for $20, shifting to a pay-as-you-go model subsequently. This plan calculates costs in ACUs (Autonomous Computing Units), with $20 equating to approximately 9 ACUs. Each ACU, priced at $2.25, accounts for 15 minutes of active use, providing roughly 2.25 hours of usage at the base entry, increasing costs quickly with extended use.

Devin 2.0 presents improved functionalities, paralleling GitHub’s Copilot. It now helps with creating comprehensive coding project plans, providing code insights with references, and generating documentation. According to Silas Alberti from Devin’s team, the updated AI has doubled its previous performance rate, showcasing efficiency improvements. The feedback from TechCrunch highlights these enhancements.

Despite these advancements, skepticism surrounds Devin's reliability. Studies indicate that even advanced code-generating AIs like Devin are prone to introducing bugs and security issues. These shortcomings arise due to deficiencies in understanding complex programming logic, posing potential risks in professional software development settings. A previous assessment revealed Devin's successful completion of only three out of twenty coding tasks, signaling the necessity for continued scrutiny.

The launch of the affordable plan reflects Cognition's intention to attract more users by lowering entry barriers while encouraging wider experimentation with Devin. This strategic move is designed to gather extensive user feedback, essential for refining the AI's functionalities and addressing its existing limitations. The introduction of Devin 2.0 signifies an evolutionary step in AI-assisted coding, emphasizing the balance between cost-efficiency and technological advancement.

Sources: TechCrunch, Perplexity, Cognition

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