The Synergy of Generative AI and Low-Code Platforms
Software developers are creating and releasing high-quality software and apps faster than ever before.
The secret behind this acceleration in custom software development is two tools: generative AI and low-code platforms.
Artificial intelligence is now part of our everyday lives, whether you’re a fan or not. When you use your virtual assistant device, watch a streaming platform, or filter your emails, you use AI.
AI trends in healthcare are advancing quickly in areas like early disease detection and discovering new drugs. AI in the workplace features automation and chatbots, which vastly help employees work more efficiently and get more done.
Most of these time-saving, convenient tools and devices were created with Gen AI and low-code development platforms. Combining these two powerhouses helps developers build robust applications while reducing time and costs during the development process. Software engineers simply need to input a prompt, and the Gen AI tool will rely on its algorithms to produce an output.
Gen AI and Low-Code Platforms
You already know what Gen AI can do if you’ve tried ChatGPT or similar tools. Gen AI produces different types of content based on a user’s prompts. A Statista survey found that 68% of people used Gen AI for answers, while 54% used it for brainstorming ideas.
ChatGPT can generate text in mere seconds; so can Midjourney for images, and Synthesia for videos. Generative AI tools can also create codes. They can turn regular text instruction into code for software development. For example, if you input this prompt, “Create a Python script that lists items in alphabetical order,” the generative tool will produce the appropriate code.
On the other hand, low-code development lets you build apps and workflows with a drag-and-drop interface. Low-code solutions can significantly reduce app development time by offering ready-made, easily customizable components. The low-code tool creates the underlying code efficiently, quickly, and securely.
Generative AI Amplifying Low-Code Platforms
Low-code platforms offer a visual interface for app development. However, you still need to logically break down what you want to accomplish using the platform’s visual editor to piece the components together. You need to understand the components and their underlying behaviors to do this properly.
This is where you can leverage generative AI. It facilitates translation so you can align user intent with the right components. You can even build new components if you want. Gen AI lets you describe what you need or ask questions using natural language. You can “converse” with Gen AI tools, much like how you speak with your friends. You don’t need to learn new jargon or specific tech language to come up with your prompt.
Additionally, low-code solutions are declarative. They focus on “what” you want to achieve rather than “how” to do it. This fits well with how users use Gen AI. Instead of prompting the Gen AI tool to create detailed code to do a specific task, you tell the AI what you want, and it produces the final result. This simplifies the process and gives you room for personalization.
Benefits of Combining Generative AI with Low-Code Platforms
The combination of Gen AI and low-code solutions can benefit users in many ways. Here are the top three.
Speeds Up the Process
A low-code platform is already a fast track to completing software or mobile app development. But when you add generative AI into the mix, it speeds up the process even more.
Gen AI streamlines the entire development process. It can quickly generate customizable codes and boost functionality compared to existing low-code solutions that depend on pre-written code snippets.
Balances the Limitations of Gen AI
One factor contributing to the winning combination of these tools is the ability of low-code platforms to balance generative AI’s limitations. Yes, Gen AI can write code, but typically in small parts for simple apps.
But when partnered with low-code solutions, especially those integrated into larger AI-powered automation systems, the combination offers advanced development tools that include best practices for security, performance, cross-compatibility, and bug reduction.
Another issue is AI’s tendency to hallucinate, which means the algorithm confidently gives a wrong answer based on predictions about the next word, number, or sequence. These projections aren’t always accurate. While hallucinations can happen in low-code, they occur much less frequently and can be significantly reduced with well-designed models. This is because low-code components are pre-built, making it harder to create errors.
Democratizes Software Development
Over the past decades, low-code development platforms have grown popular among self-taught developers, boot camp alums, and citizen developers. Generative AI can make these platforms even more accessible and user-friendly.
Gen AI helps new programmers create basic code. While some expertise is still needed to ensure the code is error-free, performs well, and follows security best practices, it’s a way to get one’s foot in the door.
When you combine Gen AI with low-code software, it further enhances development accessibility. For example, a new low-code developer could collaborate with a business team to generate a workflow using natural language. They could then gather feedback and quickly update the workflow diagram using subsequent AI prompts.
Fresh Possibilities Thanks to Gen AI + Low-Code Platforms
AI and low-code solutions are by no means new technologies. Both have systematically shaped the future by changing the game in software development and many other industries. Generative AI brings a lot of potential and opportunities to optimize low-code platforms further. Combining the two will significantly impact the coding development scene.
That said, maintaining strong governance is imperative when using both tools. It’s a good thing that, by nature, low-code solutions have natural guardrails to prevent issues with security and unreliability. AI-generated low-code platforms have even more guardrails, such as access authorization and clearly defined privacy protocols. Some also have built-in safeguards for deployment to ensure the code is properly tested and vetted.
A reputable software development company like Taazaa leverages this new, sophisticated way of coding. Contact us to learn more.
