[3] The members developed the software via a combination of training large language models akin to OpenAI's GPT-4 with aspects from reinforcement learning.
[4][5] Compared to the GitHub Copilot tool,[3][4] the software can code, debug, plan and problem solve via machine learning techniques.
[3] In a demo from Cognition Labs, the tool also created a website based on the Llama 2 language model through plan, source code and benchmark testing generation.
[3] The tool has also been noted for potentially allowing users of a non-technical background to create projects, and aiding developers in solving more complex tasks.
[5] CEO Aravind Srinivas of Perplexity.ai offered praise to Devin, claiming that it "seemed to be 'the first demo of any agent, leave alone coding, that seems to cross the threshold' of human capability.
[3][8] In the wake of layoffs within the tech industry throughout 2023 and 2024,[8] discourse of the tool involves concerns that it may replace engineers and remove lower-level jobs.
[3][5] Following Devin's debut, various AI software engineering models have been released, such as free and open source replacements like OpenDevin (now called OpenHands) [12] and Devika,[13] and Genie by San Francisco-based startup Cosine.