Technology continues to advance at a rapid rate in our world today. From smart devices to the Internet of Things (IoT), tech helps us with work, leisure, life admin and more. It’s hard to imagine a life without technology helping us with the day-to-day of life.
One major advancement in tech in the last few years has been AI, which is making its way through all industries at a rapid rate. But what about AI’s role in web development? What does this look like?
This article aims to explore the role of AI in web development. What is its current use? How can it evolve and be used in future? What are the challenges and considerations professionals need to think about?
What is Web Development?
Web development is the name given to the process of creating, building, and maintaining websites and web applications.
Web development involves various aspects, including web design, coding, and database management, and is generally divided into three distinct areas: front-end, back-end, and full-stack development. The front-end is the public-facing part of a website, where end users use and interact with web pages. The back-end is the background code and databases that support the front-end use. In contrast, full-stack is the term given to when a web developer specialises in both front and back-end web development.
Web developers use various programming languages, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, to create websites and web applications, which have created the internet as we know and love it today.
AI Today and Web Development
Modern internet users interact with artificial intelligence almost every day. Some just play with AI tools like ChatGPT or Deepseek, while others use machine learning algorithms to create exciting content and explore possibilities.
Considering the impressive possibilities of this generative technology, AI and web development are undoubtedly powerful combinations when used purposefully and meaningfully. AI is capable of analysing the biggest possible data sets, making well-validated decisions, and providing accurate predictions about user behaviour.
It is worth mentioning that AI can be used as a supporting tool. Still, it’s always best to engage the services of professionals, whether it’s a web development agency in Melbourne or an experienced freelancer, for your web development needs.
AI in Web Development
Now, we’ll examine how AI can supplement and enhance web development activities.
Coding
Until recently, code generation, code optimisation, and code completion were tasks only human programmers could manage. The evolution of AI tools has changed this, making web development easier and faster for developers.
AI tools can generate code based on descriptions of their purpose in natural language. For instance, OpenAI’s Codex tool can generate code snippets in response to a programmer’s prompt. However, the code still needs to be revised and checked manually by a human developer.
Also, some developers use GitHub’s Copilot tool to complete code, which saves them time and boosts productivity for web development freelancers and companies.
There is an argument for using automated code generation, as it can save time, allowing web developers to focus on more complex tasks. Additionally, advanced tools offered by AI can accelerate the deployment of various website features, such as voice search, an easy navigation system, and mobile-friendly website creation.
AI for UX and UI
UX stands for user experience, which refers to how a user experiences a website and what they think and feel when using it. UI stands for user interface, which refers to how a website is laid out and the tools a user can use to interact with it.
AI can be a practical tool for web design, especially for UX and UI. For instance, AI can create logos or other visual assets that can be repurposed across a website. However, there are more innovative uses of AI for this purpose as well, such as website templates generated by AI or AI scanning sketches and transforming them into gorgeous designs automatically. Again, AI is best used to supplement human design instead of completely replacing it.
Quality Assurance and Testing
AI is often used in quality assurance and testing across a range of sectors, including web development, and this is not a new development in the space.
However, the technical capacity and capability of AI have matured, and AI tools can analyse website data and predict issues that may arise during the web deployment process, again working excellently when paired with a human web developer.
Automation and Version Control
For more complex web development projects, AI can become part of the Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) process. As the name suggests, this is a web development methodology where each new piece of code is deployed to production automatically, allowing for rapid and more consistent deployments.
As part of this innovative process, AI tools can analyse code changes and suggest the best version control strategy to ensure that development changes are properly tracked and managed.
Drawbacks of AI in Web Development
There are some limitations to AI technology’s use for web development, such as;
Bias
Unfortunately, generative AI systems can generate biased output if their training data is manipulated in a certain way. This can lead to unfair, inaccessible or discriminatory outcomes in UX.
For example, biased algorithms and AI training, when used in web development, can impact content delivery, product recommendations, and website accessibility features. This can negatively impact customer engagement and trust in the business or organisation.
Ensuring the training data is reliable and accurate can help to overcome this limitation.
Security Issues and Data Privacy
Currently, AI applications need a huge volume of user data in order to function effectively. Improper data handling can invite data security breaches and result in loss of customer trust.
At the moment, businesses must navigate strict Australian compliance guidelines, which add another layer of complexity to AI use in web development. Web developers must implement all the required backend security measures to protect user data while leveraging AI for web development.
AI Integration Complexity
This is a major drawback. Currently, integrating AI systems into existing web development workflows and projects can be complex and draining for a developer or team. Your development team needs to invest considerable time in research and practice to achieve seamless integration between development and AI. This can lead to blown-out project timelines and increased costs for web development.
In addition to this, the technical expertise required to learn and implement machine learning algorithms for web development, as well as data analytics, can present a steep learning curve for devs. This can hamstring the efficient use of AI technologies for web development and lead to poor outcomes.
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This article has considered the role of AI in web development. We’ve shared ways AI can support web development, as well as outlining some key drawbacks.
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