The Future of Web Development
It’s the big debate. Developer vs robot. Is Artificial Intelligence waiting to take over the world like a mega super villain? Don’t worry, the super evil Master Bug isn’t taking over the Developer role anytime soon. There is plenty space in the Developer world for AI, with many pro’s and enough con’s to keep us in a job for a long, long time in a galaxy far, far away.
What is AI?
Well, it isn’t a super robot villain, honestly! It is a complicated equation designed to make a decision by applying certain criteria to information. It isn’t a new concept, but it has become somewhat of a buzz word in the tech world in the last few years thanks to advancing technology and big tech companies.
Human VS Machine
2023 has seen some great advancements in terms of Artificial Intelligence, in AI Art, Chat GBT and arguably most importantly in the medical field, with the development of vaccines as a strong example. This may have left many of us wondering if our jobs will soon be taken over by machines. As a web developer, that is a valid concern to have. After all, AI is now capable of developing quality sites at a faster rate and more efficiently than human web developers, right? Well, no, not exactly.
AI in Web Development
AI definitely has a few advantages over human web developers. AI is capable of automation of repetitive tasks in both the backend-end and front-end, cutting down on development time and increasing efficiency. In the back-end, AI algorithms can swiftly create code from studying patterns, manage databases and implement functionalities. The code generated by AI is said to be more consistent and accurate compared to a developer, since there is no human error involved. AI has also made advancements in terms of front-end development: it can automate tasks such as graphic creation, layout creation and customisation, content management and the user-interface design.
AI can also enhance optimisation and user experience of a website. AI optimises sites by finding quick solutions to website performance issues and carrying out SEO tasks. As for user experience, Machine Learning (a term for when problems can be solved by helping machines discover their own algorithms) can be utilised to create customer service chatbots to provide real-time support for customers, and AI-based data analysis can be used to predict user behaviour and preferences to further optimise the site.
All this sounds too good to be true, right? We all know to be suspicious of that…
Humans in Web Development
On paper, it seems like machines can do it all. With AI creating and optimising the site, and its sidekick, the Machine Learning algorithms, providing the necessary user experience.
However, in reality, the results provided by AI are not as stellar as they seem. Websites created exclusively by AI are lacking in many aspects that human web developers excel in. AI is wonderful but it does lack creativity, there isn’t a code for that (yet!).
In terms of design, AI generated sites will usually end up looking flat and uninspiring. This is because AI lacks the originality and creativity that is needed for the development of unique and customised websites for clients. Only a human web developer can adapt and find the balance between aesthetics and usability of a website and design user-friendly interfaces. You can’t argue with that.
Web developers excel in problem-solving skills compared to AI, which means they can better deal with complex technical problems and maintain websites after they have been published. AI also struggles to communicate and comprehend user experiences as deeply as we humans do, which means the developers are better suited to understand client briefs and therefore create more customised and personalised solutions for each client.
In this moment, AI cannot work independently and away from a human input in web development. A developer still has to be present to guide the AI to carry out tasks with the correct prompts, monitor the AI behaviour and outputs and make the necessary result adjustments to suit the client needs. But guess what, a developer could make you a wonderful site without the help of AI. So, who is the real hero/heroine here? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Super Developer!
Working Together
To sum up, AI is not our nemesis. Humans are of course still required and of great importance in the website development industry due to their originality, creativity, communication and innovation.
However, this does not mean that there is no space for AI in web development. Developers can utilise AI tools to further build on communication, code quality and website performance. AI can carry out automated tasks, which in turn will provide developers with more time and space to deal with more complex problems and projects. Striking the right balance between developers and AI can improve efficiency and elevate the quality of website projects and products.
So, justice has been restored. In the great battle between AI and Developers, there are no villains, just super websites.
If you need a website that is good enough to take over the world, then get in touch today to see what our fantastic four developers can do for you!