Stack overflow's monthly questions plummet to under 1,000 as AI tools reshape developer practices

Stack Overflow, the world's largest programming Q&A platform, has seen its monthly question count drop dramatically since the rise of AI tools. According to developer frank chu, who verified the data using the Stack Exchange API, the site recorded just 969 new questions in September 2026, a sharp decline from 5263 in October 2025 and 23,162 in October 2024. The drop is even more severe when compared to October 2020, which saw 141,749 questions. This represents an 81.6% decrease from 2025 and a 95.8% drop from 2024. The decline is also 99.3% lower than the 141,749 questions recorded in October 2020. The data suggests a significant shift in how developers seek solutions, with AI tools potentially reducing the need for traditional Q&A platforms. The site is now seen as an archive rather than an active knowledge repository.