The JetBrains AI Assistant, launched on the Marketplace in December 2023, has spiraled into controversy due to its mixed reception among users. Despite being downloaded nearly 23 million times to date, the assistant holds a low rating of 2.3 out of 5 stars from 851 reviews as of May. Users have primarily criticized the tool’s lack of seamless integration and underwhelming auto-completion capabilities. Furthermore, JetBrains’ approach to addressing negative reviews has drawn public scrutiny. Users such as Haso Keric express disdain, labeling the assistant as more gimmick than practical. Meanwhile, Juraj Nemec accuses JetBrains of unjustly removing negative feedback, eroding consumer trust in the process.
In defense, JetBrains’ representative, mutegazer, clarified on Reddit that certain reviews were removed due to issues already resolved or because they violated policies like inappropriate language, not merely because of criticism. Acknowledging the necessity for enhanced communication, JetBrains looks to refine feedback handling, with potential measures including version-specific reviews and clearer moderation notices. Despite the backlash, some users such as Jonathan Gafner and Jochen Issing praise the AI Assistant, awarding it five stars for its utility in their development practices. The complex spectrum of opinions underscores JetBrains’ focus on communication improvement and user experience enhancement to rebuild consumer trust.
