The field of software engineering is witnessing significant advancements in productivity and collaboration, driven by the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and the growing importance of empathy and psychological safety in software development. Researchers are investigating the impact of AI on developer productivity and experience, with findings suggesting that AI is augmenting developers rather than replacing them. The effective integration of AI depends on team culture and support structures, highlighting the need for organizational support and peer learning. Furthermore, studies are exploring the role of power dynamics in pair programming, emphasizing the importance of avoiding power gaps and promoting equalizing behaviors to enhance knowledge transfer, code quality, and process efficiency. The development of accessible and adaptive software for senior users is also gaining attention, with low-code approaches and tools showing promise in mitigating development constraints and promoting inclusive technologies. Noteworthy papers in this area include:

• The SPACE of AI, which presents findings on the impact of AI on developer productivity and experience.
• Empathy Guidelines for Improving Practitioner Well-being & Software Engineering Practices, which introduces actionable empathy guidelines for software practitioners.
• Psychological safety in software workplaces, which systematically reviews the existing body of knowledge on psychological safety in software engineering.