Using AI to boost small business revenue

Business growth worldwide is increasingly being influenced by data-driven innovation. In Kenya, for instance, private and public institutions are also gradually turning to generative AI to take more control of their processes and data.

This is particularly evident in the area of application development. With large language models (LLMs) trained on billions of coding parameters, GenAI helps developers by generating quick fixes for repetitive tasks such as boilerplate codes, database operations, and standard UI elements, allowing for a faster and better application development experience.

Will Gen AI replace low-code development platforms?

It is important to note that even before GenAI entered the app development space, low-code and no-code development platforms had been offering a simplified development environment by helping businesses adopt agility in software development life cycles and go-to-market strategies. Consequently, it is not surprising that industry discussions have shifted to whether or not GenAI can completely replace low-code platforms, given its potential and steady uptake. The answer is no.

While GenAI cannot completely replace low-code platforms without human involvement, it may greatly enhance the value that these platforms offer. For instance, based on your prompt, GenAI can easily generate a specific block of code in a specific programming language for a particular functionality. However, what AI can’t do seamlessly is tell you where a snippet should be plugged in, what would change if you tweaked a certain component, or if the generated snippet has the scope for optimisation in view of the desired result.

The better option is to select a suitable low-code/no-code platform with extensive GenAI integration and strong LLM capabilities in order to get the most out of everything. A loosely coupled low-code/AI approach may result in technical debt, poorly designed applications, and compliance challenges.