How to create an app with AI: The undisputed guide

Think that AI's main purpose is to "trigger a global nuclear war and exterminate the human species"?

Then you've been spending too much time on Wikipedia reading the plot of "The Terminator".

On the contrary, AI's main purposes are to assist humans and reduce human error. So how does it do this?

Well, it has a wide range of use cases, including automating repetitive tasks, optimising processes and enhancing decision-making.

From simply writing an email to debugging code, AI technologies like ChatGPT and Gemini are reshaping the landscape of countless sectors.

And app development is no different.

App builders leverage the technology at varying stages of the app development process to generate and test code, produce app prototypes, optimise processes and much more.

But there’s only one platform on the market that uses AI in every part of the software assembly line to create robust, custom apps. And humans still have a key role to play.

In this blog, we’ll reveal exactly what that is. But first, let’s dive into the different roles of AI in app development in more detail as well as the benefits it delivers.

Let’s get started 👇

Role of AI in app building

One of the biggest challenges in app building has always been the massive variance between the final product from the original app idea.

This ideation-to-implementation journey involves a lot of human variables, like misunderstanding the requirements, mistakes in coding and insufficient testing, which ultimately increase app development costs and lengthen the delivery timelines of an app.

This is where AI models come into play. AI can use deep learning (DL) and natural language processing (NLP) to facilitate human-like conversations and process information to inspire ideas.

Another area where AI contributes the most is tackling boring stuff through automation. Almost 66% of software projects fail, according to a report. And one of the biggest reasons for this is that businesses need apps delivered super fast, at the lowest price and of the highest quality.

AI can automate mundane, repetitive tasks, allowing developers to focus on creating needle-moving custom features. AI can also automate code generation, bug detection and testing, resulting in shorter development cycles and reduced costs while maintaining high quality.

As you can see, AI has a huge role to play in the app-building process and can benefit it in various ways. However, that’s all theory. Now, let’s take a closer look at how app builders are practically implementing the technology…

Use cases of AI in app building

Of late, there's been a surge in the integration of AI capabilities into the app-building process by numerous app development platforms. Each of these platforms uses AI differently, in whatever form they deem fit.

Some of the common approaches to leveraging AI in app building are 👇

1 - To generate code

Traditional app developers generally use AI tools to generate code snippets or even entire modules based on design specifications. This makes creating software much more efficient and reduces the likelihood of coding errors.

2 - To power front-end chatbots

Using NLP and Generative AI, app developers create virtual chatbots to understand user queries and respond to them in natural language. This way, they facilitate enhanced user interactions and provide assistance.

3 - To generate content

App developers provide AI the access to create content within apps like text, images or other media in response to prompts. Here, the AI is used within the app rather than in the app-building process.

4 - To test the code

App developers use AI-driven testing tools to perform code tests rather than only depending on manual testing, as this can identify bugs and performance issues much more efficiently.

5 - To generate user stories

App developers leverage AI to analyse existing documentation and user feedback to generate user stories and define acceptance criteria that can then be used to identify potential test scenarios, like specific conditions, inputs and expected outcomes.

6 - To create prototypes

App developers are using AI to generate wireframes, mockups, splash screens and other design graphics almost instantly. It helps in creating responsive designs that adapt seamlessly to various screen sizes and resolutions.

7 - To optimise processes

App developers use AI to help determine how well the app is performing on certain tasks. AI can use machine learning to give recommendations based on the data on how to improve.

Builder.ai is using AI to understand customer intent — or, in other words, analysing what a customer really means and wants when they ask for a software feature change.” – Sachin Dev Duggal, Chief Wizard, Builder.ai

Benefits of AI in app development

Leveraging AI in the app development process offers several advantages to your business. Some of the key benefits are:

1 - Rapid development

AI-driven app development platforms can significantly reduce the development time for your project. This is because they automate many aspects of the app-building process, like adding features based on the type of app you’re building, creating instant prototypes to help visualise your idea and testing to spot any issues.

AI app development platforms use the technology at various stages of development, resulting in rapid development and faster time-to-market for your app.

2 - Unlimited customisations

AI app development platforms like Builder.ai have pre-built customisable modules that can be integrated into your app. There’s a wide range of modular components, like user authentication, payment processing, product catalogues, social media integration and many others.

The technology also helps you customise your app’s design.

For example, your app’s user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) are automatically generated based on industry best practice, rather than being built from scratch.

3 - High performance

AI app development creates high-performance apps that load fast and have a smooth user experience. This is because AI can optimise the code generated for your app, reducing unnecessary overheads and ensuring that your app runs efficiently.

Furthermore, AI can monitor your app analytics in real-time and manage your resources effectively, ensuring memory and CPU are allocated efficiently.

4 - Cost efficient

With AI app development, you don’t need to spend as much money hiring developers to create your code from scratch, as some of the heavy lifting is done by AI. You simply choose from the library of pre-built components, and AI fits them together based on your requirements.

This slashes the amount of billable hours developers need to spend on your project, while they can also focus on making the customisations you really need.

5 - Removal of human errors

As we noted above, around 66% of software projects fail. The number one reason for this is that it takes many systems to build an app that all rely on humans to pass information between them.

In AI app development, code generation, code reviewing and analysis, bug detection and testing automation are handled by AI. This means human errors are significantly reduced throughout the development lifecycle, while the overall quality, efficiency and user experience of your app are enhanced.

Builder.ai wants to cut the number of people needed to make software. How? By thinking of apps as building blocks of code that can be reused and reshuffled again and again, and only using human input for final customisation.” – Sachin Dev Duggal, Chief Wizard, Builder.ai

How does Builder.ai use AI differently?

Now that we’ve covered the general topic of how AI is used in app building, it’s time to get more specific about what Builder.ai has to offer.

Builder.ai uses AI and the right amount of humans to make your whole app development journey seamless. For example, it does this to:

• Provide feature recommendations
• Generate app prototypes
• Give you accurate prices and timelines

In other words, it assists you, project managers and developers at every stage of your app build.

Builder.ai uses a unique approach to leverage AI capabilities in app development. We’ve set up an “AI-powered software assembly line” using Natasha to simplify the whole app development process.

Next, let’s see who is Natasha and how she brings it all together 👇

Builder.ai is democratising access to custom software from small businesses to enterprises. Our platform is designed around the vision of build, run and scale.” – Sachin Dev Duggal, Chief Wizard, Builder.ai

Natasha – World’s first AI product manager

While ChatGPT and Google Gemini are very capable text-generative artificial intelligence, Natasha isn’t just a glorified chatbot. She does so much more.

Natasha is the world’s first AI-powered project manager who helps you build a wide range of apps. Using Deep Learning (DL) she can process information much like a human brain and provide inspiration and ideas that reflect business needs.

Natasha does this by using the Builder Knowledge Graph (the brain) to guide you as you conceptualise and design your app. She:

• Uses an arsenal of data and machine learning algorithms to offer you feature and template recommendations
• Creates original and realistic visuals of what an app could look like using textual input
• Turns an idea into a set of features, splits a project into parallel streams for a faster build, selects the best developers, sets clear timelines and calculates accurate budgets; all of which was previously only possible manually
• Ensures quality of the app’s approved designs and codes; although this process still involves human testing again, it significantly reduces testing time from 2-3 weeks to 60 seconds

Ultimately, Natasha has made a time-consuming operation into a smooth, predictable and repeatable process, providing unrivalled transparency and consistency.

Natasha uses Knowledge Graph to understand what customers say and build relationships between their requirements and features to reduce human variability in the development process” – Sachin Dev Duggal, Chief Wizard, Builder.ai

How does Natasha streamline your app project?

As you know, Natasha is Builder.ai’s AI product manager who assists the app development process so your projects are delivered with unparalleled transparency and consistency. Let’s learn how exactly Natasha works to streamline your app project.

Stage 1: Project scoping

Using machine learning algorithms, Natasha recommends the features you need, based on the type of app you’re building. Natasha also creates an instant prototype for you, helping visualise your idea.

As much as 80% of the information is gathered automatically.

Stage 2: Design

Natasha works out all of the tasks needed to build your app, in the most efficient order, and generates a Buildcard. We then use automation to turn the designer’s screens into code.

Natasha takes only 60 seconds to turn design files into front-end code.

Stage 3: Development

Natasha recommends the best-suited developer for your app project, who then customises your code on our virtual desktop. We also use facial recognition to check that the developer working on your code is the same one Natasha picked.

As much as 60% of the code is automated by Natasha.

Stage 4: Testing

Natasha checks your approved design and code to spot any issues. Then it’s tested again by humans, improving efficiency and reducing error.

Earlier, testing used to take 2-3 weeks. Natasha uses automation to test the app in 60 seconds.

Stage 5: Delivery

Natasha predicts potential project delays and reallocates resources as needed, so everything stays on track.

When we complete and check all your customisations and integrations, we ship the final release and source code to you. And you own your code.

Natasha helps us achieve an exceptionally high success rate compared to the 78% industry standard.

Builder.ai vs other AI app builders

An important thing to emphasise when comparing Builder.ai to other AI app builders is the nature of artificial intelligence itself.

This technology develops its intelligence by learning from mistakes, just like a child. This means it’s not something you can build overnight. Instead, it needs more time, more expertise and infinitely more patience.

In this context, Natasha already has up to five years’ worth of data to draw upon. And for that period, she’s been listening to client ideas, suggesting features, working with developers on multitudes of projects, designing prototypes, testing and debugging software and most of all, learning every day.

Most other AI app builders are under a year old, meaning they’re playing catchup, as a result.

Aside from Builder.ai, no other app builder can provide you with clear timelines or pricing as they don’t have the knowledge themselves. On the other hand, Natasha gives you a guaranteed timeline and price in the first meeting itself, with no hidden costs.

What’s more? Builder.ai promises that the code ownership remains with you after you’ve paid the agreed price, unlike other app builders who typically operate on unscalable vendor lock-in models.

Ultimately, while Builder.ai isn’t the only AI app builder, it certainly has the most pedigree.

How to create an app with AI: Builder Studio

1 - Choose a base for your app idea

Our AI Product Manager, Natasha, finds relevant app templates (based on the world’s favourite apps). Use them as a base for the sort of app features you might need.

2 - Customise app features

Our team helps you add and remove app features to meet the needs of your business and real users.

3 - Select your app platforms and set timelines

Choose your app platform (Android, iOS, desktop), map out the delivery of your Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and choose your build timeline. Prices adjust according to the speed of your app build; for example, “Speedy” costs more than “Relaxed”.

4 - Get your Buildcard

See a full breakdown of your app’s features before committing to your project.

5 - Choose your payment plan

Select either weekly or monthly instalments.

6 - Match with a product expert

After choosing your payment plan, we assign a dedicated product expert to your project to manage your app build. They handle all comms with our network of developers, so you don’t have to.

7 - Review your build progress

Your real-time customer dashboard allows you to interact with your product expert and monitor your project up until the launch.

8 - Release your app

You’re ready to launch on the mobile app stores of your choice; for example, the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.

Conclusion

If you’re looking to create an app using only AI and zero human involvement, then I have both good and bad news for you.

First, the bad news – it’s not possible.

The good news is that this is precisely how we intend it to be. Let's take the example of self-driving cars. We certainly don’t want drivers to doze off behind the wheel in a self-driving car; rather, we expect them to be alert and intervene if needed.

Similarly, when it comes to creating apps, we want AI to be human assisted, allowing us to speed up the development process while maintaining the highest quality and standards.

If that sounds good, hit the banner below and see how AI can help you create your dream app 👇

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