Web development is constantly changing, but the arrival of artificial intelligence could cause the most significant shift that the web dev world has ever seen. AI tools are advancing at an alarming rate, and many platforms are now capable of generating code, identifying bugs and creating basic websites. However, given the speed at which things are progressing, the next 5 years could see AI move far beyond basic websites.
But what does this mean for AI developers? Will the world still need human devs? Will we be fully reliant on AI to create websites and online products?
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In this article, we explore what the next 5 years could look like in the world of web development.
AI Will Make Website Development Faster
The most obvious impact will come in the form of speed. The jury’s still out on whether or not AI can complete tasks to the same level as humans, and it probably differs from one task to the next. But something that humans can’t compete on is speed.
From designing websites to writing articles, AI can complete tasks in minutes that would have previously taken humans hours, if not days. In terms of development, AI can instantly identify bugs and create basic web designs in a matter of minutes. In the coming years, it’s probable that AI won’t replace devs in this respect, but will help them to complete certain tasks more quickly. For instance, a dev may use AI to identify bugs or to create an early iteration of a website.
The Rise of “Prompt-to-Website” Development
The most impressive feature of AI is its ability to generate new material based on a simple prompt. To begin with, users would ask AI to write articles, marketing plans and social media calendars. But as discussed above, certain AI tools are now capable of producing fully working websites with one simple prompt.
This feature does reduce the need for developers, although we’re not fully at a point where businesses should start making their whole dev departments redundant. Instead, it points towards a future where web design relies more on creative minds and strategy implementation, suggesting that the future of websites may be driven by marketing teams rather than developers.
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UX Will Become Even More Important
There’s little doubt that AI will be capable of building visually appealing websites in a matter of minutes, if it isn’t already. But will it work correctly and offer a smooth user experience? At this moment in time, this is the big question mark over AI when it comes to web development.
In the future, this will make UX designers even more important than they already are. If we’re relying on AI to create, then we must be prepared for errors that go beyond the way something appears. Unless AI tools advance dramatically from their current state, which is expected, web designs probably won’t consider areas such as user journeys, conversion rate optimisation and mobile experience.
Websites Will Become More Personalised
Customers and users want more personalised experiences, and this is one way in which artificial intelligence is being used. From customer service to AI recommendations, our online experience is becoming more tailored thanks to artificial intelligence.
In the future, AI could be integrated into websites to offer an experience that differs from one user to the next. For example, if an e-commerce website could change which products are displayed first based on what it knows about the user, this could have a significant impact on conversion rates for brands.
Security Will Become a Bigger Human Responsibility
It’s imperative that cybersecurity is considered when we enter the era of AI. We’re already seeing that this is an area that AI can be guilty of overlooking, again favouring the way a website looks or prioritising the requests of a user’s prompt.
Going forward, the success of AI web development will depend on whether or not it can create secure websites that protect users. This is another reason why web developers’ jobs aren’t in immediate danger. Even if it could be argued that developers are no longer needed to create functional, aesthetically pleasing websites, they are needed to ensure safe, secure websites that protect users.
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AI Could Cut Out the Middleman
The businesses that are about to be most impacted by AI web development are the ones offering specialist online design services. For example, websites like Snapfish have carved out a niche by using customers’ photos to create personalised photo books. AI presents an alternative though, allowing users to upload images to platforms like ChatGPT and prompt the platform to create photo book designs.
These middleman platforms will be left with a dilemma: either compete with AI or integrate AI-shaped tools. Either way, the business landscape will look very different in five years time.
Final Thoughts: What Will Websites Look Like in 2031?
For a start, there’s a very good chance that web developers will still exist in 5 years time. Will there be fewer of them? Most likely. Will their role have changed? Almost definitely. As discussed already, the role of a developer may shift towards overseeing AI-shaped websites and ensuring they are safe, secure and legal.
It’s also worth considering that new roles will emerge in the field of web development. AI UX designers and strategists may become needed to fill the gaps which AI isn’t capable of. Budding developers should consider this. Their career path could look very different, and the early years could be spent working with AI tools to identify bugs and create website mockups.
Provided we continue to use AI in the right way, the future should involve more personalised websites that are created far more quickly than they are currently.
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