Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the landscape of software engineering (SE) with bold promises of unprecedented productivity and innovation. While industry giants promote AI-driven tools as game-changers, recent studies paint a more nuanced picture, with some contradicting the hype.

This keynote critically examines the current state of AI in SE from a practitioner’s perspective. We will explore the optimistic narratives promoted by major tech companies, confronting them with the realities revealed by recent empirical research and identifying realistic opportunities for integrating AI into everyday software development. Most importantly, the keynote will address the pressing questions that practitioners have for researchers. What problems truly need solving? By bridging the gap between research and practice, this talk aims to spark a dialogue that will contribute to shaping the research agenda for AI in software engineering.