Building a mobile app is traditionally a six-figure job and requires anywhere from 3 - 10 experienced developers. However, recognizing the dramatic shift the world is facing when it comes to strategizing and innovation, integrating AI in app development is becoming important for three reasons: accessibility, efficiency, and innovation.
So what’s changed?
Well, if we compare what we had when creating apps 5 years ago to what we have now with AI, we can see several key changes such as:
Advancements in AI Frameworks: AI frameworks and tools have made it easier for developers to integrate AI functions into their mobile apps. These frameworks allow for the implementation of machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and so on. The best part; using them doesn’t require extensive expertise in AI.
No-Code/Low-Code Platforms: No-code and low-code platforms have gained popularity over recent years, which makes it easy to create functional mobile apps. These platforms often come equipped with pre-built AI components that can easily be integrated into the app.
AI as a Service (AIaaS): Cloud-based AI services offer simple APIs that developers can leverage when adding AI functionalities to their apps. These AIaaS platforms handle the training and deployment of AI models, which reduces the complexity behind developing AI-powered applications.
User Experience: Integrating AI in mobile apps allows for interactive and personalized user experiences. This is made possible through AI-driven features, such as recommendation systems, chatbots, and voice assistants.
Competitive Edge: As more companies adopt AI in their mobile apps, you’ll see that it’s become a huge advantage. Businesses can gain insights from user data, then make improvements in app performance, and ultimately use that to stay ahead of the competition in a market evolving so quickly.
Scalability: Automation streamlines various aspects of app development, which reduces the need for big teams of developers as well as the development time. The amount which one developer can accomplish is amplified with AI tools and can also optimize resource usage.
Integration with IoT and Big Data: AI's ability to process and analyze vast amounts of data is particularly valuable when it comes to IoT and Big Data. AI-powered mobile apps can make sense of data that’s been collected from devices and sources which creates new opportunities for innovation and of course data-driven decision-making.
Using AI to Build My App
Getting started: AI frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch will give you the documentation to learn the syntax, functions, and usage of different components within the framework when integrating machine learning models into your mobile app. These frameworks have pre-trained models for common tasks like image recognition and sentiment analysis, which is important because again, it makes it easier to incorporate AI functionalities without expertise.
For developers looking to create apps without in-depth coding knowledge, no-code and low-code platforms like Appgyver and Bubble are great choices. These are going to come with AI plugins and integrations, which will allow developers to drag and drop AI components into their apps. You can create an entire website and mobile app in a matter of hours, and plug-ins are at your fingertips for just about anything you could want your app to have.
Also, using AIaaS platforms like AWS AI services or Google Cloud AI can further simplify the development process. Developers can integrate these APIs into their apps and leverage the AI without having to think too much about the underlying infrastructure.
In the middle: Now, during the design phase, developers can employ design tools such as Adobe Sensei and Figma's Smart Selection, which create interfaces that are both aesthetic and user-friendly. These tools use AI algorithms that suggest improvements to the layout, that generate design prototypes, and that adapt designs based on feedback from users.
When testing the app, AI testing frameworks like Testim and Appvance AI Testing can automate test case creation and execution, which will help identify potential issues. For personalization and recommendation features, you can use AI-based recommendation engines like Amazon Personalize or Google Recommendations AI.
At the end: Now, when you deploy and monitor the app, DevOps tools like Jenkins X or GitLab Auto DevOps will help automate the deployment process, monitor the app's performance, and detect anomalies you should be aware of.
Traditional Methodology Comparison
If you compare everything we just outlined to traditional methods which require big budgets, teams of experienced developers, and months or even years until an app is complete, it's clear that code generators and low-code platforms alone change the landscape for app development forever.
Businesses and developers can have cost-efficiency, faster development cycles, and access to a broader audience which were seemingly unattainable with traditional methods. Let’s say for instance a FinTech company wants to develop a mobile app as an extension of the services they offer on their website. In a world without AI, you'd have to hire experienced developers, UI/UX designers, and domain experts. The development timeline could again span months or even years which would delay market entry time and make scalability a bigger concern.
Now, if that same FinTech company wants to do this in today’s world, you could likely do this with one or two people in a matter of weeks. Though you certainly could bring in a project manager, frontend and backend developers, UI/UX Designer, AI Specialist/Data Scientist, and a QA Tester if you have the means or require the oversight. Nonetheless, the development landscape remains focused on keeping the process quick and painless.
The Takeaway
Finding ways to leverage AI in processes your business may have followed for years isn’t easy, but it’s necessary in 2023. App development is a great example of how AI is transforming the landscape, but it’s just barely scratching the surface in terms of the kind of change AI will bring to you and your business. To navigate this, companies must look to consult with AI architects who can identify opportunities for AI integration and develop tailored strategies for implementation.
Written By Ben Brown
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ISU Corp is an award-winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost-effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.
Our unique owners’ mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to Fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.
