Ireland was taking a giant leap into the future of technology when they appointed their first AI ambassador. Now, the country has set an ambitious goal of getting 75% of businesses to use artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and big data by 2030.
What does this mean for web development in Ireland? Are they embracing the idea of AI in web development? The short answer is yes!
Web developers are at the forefront of AI adoption. Those working with images in website development are particularly enthusiastic. AI in web development can help them classify, categorise, edit, and display images more efficiently, making websites visually engaging.
Keep reading to learn more about the secrets of generative AI in web development and how it can improve the efficiency of communication, creativity, and productivity.
How can AI be used in web development?
A recent survey by Cloudinary, an image and video platform company, cited that more than half of web developers trust AI tools. The survey revealed that 99% of web developers believe web development using artificial intelligence improves the overall website design experience.
Here are five epic ways AI is used in web design:
- Coding assistants
AI-powered tools can help programmers write code faster and with fewer errors. They can automate repetitive tasks and even debug easily.
- Artificial design intelligence
Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) can create an entire website, from the user interface (UI) design to the content structure. ADIs analyse user data and create designs that fit the site's purpose.
And how do they do it? By simply asking users a few questions and analysing data it’s been trained on.
- Smart chatbots for a personalised end-user experience
Smart chatbots powered by AI provide users with a more interactive experience. They can answer questions, troubleshoot problems, and even guide users through complex tasks.
These chatbots learn and adapt over time, offering increasingly personalised interactions.
- Voice-based interactions for a convenient search experience
With our attention spans shrinking, voice search is booming. AI steps up by understanding natural language queries and using voice-optimised search to deliver the information users need instantly.
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) made easier
AI-powered SEO tools take the guesswork out by recommending keywords, topics, and even headlines that are proven to rank well. This allows developers to personalise content and target their specific audience more effectively.
Benefits of using AI in web development
The Cloudinary survey also cited that around 68% of web developers consider improved efficiency and productivity as a top benefit of AI.
The following are the three significant ways web developers use AI for website development:
- Efficient website development workflow by automating repetitive tasks, helping developers focus on creativity and problem-solving.
- Bug-free coding and automated quality checks.
- Enhanced user experience with cost-effective strategies.
Factors to consider while using AI in web development
AI can be a powerful tool that can enhance web development in many ways, but it’s important to identify how to leverage its potential. Here are some factors to consider:
- Project goals: Identify how AI can specifically benefit your project. Is it for increased efficiency, improved UX, or enhanced security?
- Data availability: Ensure you have enough high-quality data to train and run AI modes effectively.
- Development of team expertise: While AI can simplify tasks, some level of understanding of AI tools and capabilities is helpful for developers.
AI tools for web developers
Imagine being able to chat with a computer that feels almost human or having a coding assistant that practically reads your mind.
Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot allow web developers to engage in seemingly natural conversations with AI and use their assistance in website building.
These are the top AI tools for web developers to try:
- ChatGPT
ChatGPT can act as a coding assistant, generating code snippets based on conversational prompts, summarising information, highlighting details like specifications and best practices, and even identifying potential errors and bugs through quality assurance testing.
- Copilot by GitHub
Founded 15 years ago, GitHub is one of the most famous internet hosting platforms for software development. Copilot can help translate prompts into functional code, complete function suggestions, provide suggestions by understanding your project’s context and coding style, and even generate entire code snippets.
It can also help maintain industry-leading privacy practices to keep your code secure.
- Postcards AI – Email builder for developers
Postcards AI helps in creating professional-looking email templates quickly and easily. You can create customised templates without any coding.
- Sketch2Code
Sketch2Code is a unique tool offered by Microsoft that helps convert simple hand-drawn sketches into functional HTML templates, eliminating manual coding and speeding up the web development process.
- Appy Pie website
Appy Pie mainly targets beginners, but seasoned developers can use it to accelerate the web development process. From user-friendly themes and traditional layouts to advanced tools, Appy Pie can assist anyone in building a website that looks great and meets their brand identity.
- Tabnine
Tabnine AI assistant is used by companies such as Amazon, Gitlab, and Comcast. It predicts and suggests the next lines of code based on context and syntax. It uses natural language code and can create code by understanding the style of the user.
- Snyk
Security is everything. This AI tool can help in ensuring code security, reducing risks, and keeping your application safe. This AI-driven assistant can assist in analysing code, spotting and highlighting errors, and offering clear solutions for developers to fix them.
- Mintlify
Mintlify AI tool assists in automating tasks such as documentation. It scans codes and generates documentation to explain them.
Challenges in using AI in web development
AI in web development is a double-edged sword. While the integration of artificial intelligence has revolutionised web development, it also poses challenges. But what are those roadblocks?
Let’s consider some common challenges of AI tools:
- AI needs human intervention. AI can show impressive capabilities in web development, but it is not as powerful as people intend to believe. It cannot build an entire website or create unique solutions independently.
- Mistakes happen. AI is not safe from errors. You cannot bet everything on AI tools because unexpected errors and outcomes can occur.
- Running complex AI tools requires resources, including software and hardware. The increased processing power comes at a cost, as it often requires significant energy consumption, which can harm the environment.
- AI can bring “novel” ideas. However, you cannot expect out-of-the-box solutions and original ideas from AI that can create an emotional connection with your target audience.
- While AI can analyse data, it cannot understand emotions, which are important for sensitive decisions. Human judgment is still needed to work through these complexities.
- AI tools can become outdated if not trained to learn and adapt. Data scientists need to regularly revisit and evaluate the tool to stay relevant.
- Consumer data privacy is a concern. New laws and regulations should be imposed to safeguard unauthorised data replication and misuse.
In conclusion, AI can automate various tasks but cannot replicate a human web developer’s creativity and problem-solving abilities. The fusion of AI and human expertise is the new norm in web development, providing the best of both worlds.
The demand for web developers in Ireland is strong, but there is a severe shortage of web designers and developers in the country.
Many businesses in Ireland are likely to have an online presence, and keeping their websites functional and up to date is essential. Therefore, web development expertise is a highly valued skill.
A Diploma in Web Design from IBAT College Dublin can help you build a solid web development and web designing foundation. The course is tailor-made for students of the AI and ML era.
This highly rated web designing course will equip you with career-boosting skills for pursuing opportunities in fields such as front-end software development, e-commerce, search engine optimisation, web content creation, and more.
So, enrol in the Diploma for Web Design at IBAT today and take the first step to a rewarding career in web development and design!
This blog is written by Serin Thankam Sam