From FaceApp’s 2017 craze to the massive success of ChatGPT, artificial intelligence (AI) has swiftly made its way into our daily lives, transforming both our digital experiences as well as the wider technological landscape.
Mobile app development is no exception. The technology is empowering developers with tools to enhance their productivity and creativity. And, on top of that, AI-driven apps are evolving to be faster, smarter, and highly customized to meet the specific needs of each individual user.
The mobile app market is now valued at over $228 billion and is expected to keep growing at an annual compounding rate of 14.3% until 2030. But this boom isn’t just about more apps hitting the market—it’s about apps that are more useful and intuitive than ever before. And there’s no doubt that AI will be critical to this.
Let’s dive into the ways artificial intelligence is shaping mobile app development and what this means for users and developers alike.
Optimizing for human creativity
Ginny Rometty, IBM’s ex-CEO, often spoke about AI’s ability to enhance human potential. In mobile app development, the technology can act as a copilot, supporting developers and handling some of the routine tasks. Such a division of labor lets builders focus on their real strengths, putting their energy into the more creative and engaging parts of their work.
AI’s role is multifaceted, though. It helps shorten development cycles, makes coding more efficient, enables easy processing of vast amounts of data, and enhances app functionality. It’s said that its integration can help accelerate the development process by up to 30% and reduce maintenance costs by 40%.
Take, for example, a mobile fitness app that adapts workout plans to user progress and feedback. An AI-powered code generator might quickly draft the underlying algorithms that personalize workout routines, saving developers from hours of coding. The team can then invest more time refining the user interface (UI) or adding innovative features like real-time performance tracking.
At the same time, AI contributes to the reliability and quality of apps. For the same fitness app, AI-driven testing tools could efficiently run through different user scenarios, checking how well the app performs across devices. This ensures that every user gets a smooth and bug-free experience regardless of their smartphone model. By taking over these important but labor-intensive tasks, AI allows the development team to concentrate more on improving the app’s features and UI.
Democratizing access to building
Another notable advantage of AI in mobile app development is its role in democratizing app creation. AI infuses today’s development tools and platforms with advanced capabilities, from intelligent development environments that assist with code suggestions and error corrections to sophisticated analytics tools that offer insights into app performance.
AI also complements low-code and no-code platforms really well. Low-code platforms break down the barriers of traditional coding, offering straightforward, guided pathways with ready-made components. No-code platforms go a step further, letting you craft an app with the ease of drag-and-drop actions, making the technical side of app creation accessible to all. And with AI in the mix, we can incorporate additional functionalities and make the mobile app development process more efficient and intuitive than ever.
This synergy of AI with user-friendly platforms is especially empowering for small businesses and startups. It levels the digital playing field, allowing smaller players to launch innovative apps that can compete even with the big players. It’s also something we’re working towards with Appli. Through our platform, we empower anyone—no matter their coding expertise—to move from concept to launch, test their app in real time, and refine it effortlessly.
Opening new possibilities for user experience
Today, there are around 9 million apps across Android and iOS platforms. But standing out requires more than functionality—it demands delivering unparalleled user experiences. This competitive environment emphasizes the need for developers to continually innovate, using AI to create experiences that not only meet but also anticipate user needs.
For example, AI-driven personalization is becoming increasingly popular, and it’s clear why: It’s reported to lead to a remarkable 200% increase in user engagement. Just think about the recommendation engines of Spotify, Netflix, and YouTube. They deploy advanced machine-learning algorithms to analyze their users’ viewing habits and preferences and offer relatively precise recommendations.
With AI, we’re looking at a future where apps understand users and evolve with their preferences, behaviors, and situational context. Voice interactions, fueled by AI-powered assistants, are also expected to become more prevalent, making app navigation more natural and intuitive. Moreover, integrating AI with technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) is likely to continue transforming user engagement, offering immersive and interactive experiences that were once unimaginable.
AI is redefining the boundaries of app personalization, allowing developers to craft more intuitive and user-centric experiences. And by harnessing the vast data landscape to understand and predict user needs, AI is setting a new standard for what mobile apps can achieve in terms of personalization and user engagement.Interested in exploring the dynamic world of mobile app development further? Tap into your creative potential and dive into Appli.
