As AI-based technologies like the popular chatbot ChatGPT rise in prominence, low-code tool developers such as OutSystems Inc. are racing to add AI capabilities to stay ahead of the competition and remain relevant. Microsoft Corp. is taking similar measures – last month, the technology giant announced it will add AI capabilities to its low-code product, Power Platform.
Low-code and no-code tools make developing websites and applications easier for those without technical knowledge – marketing and finance employees, for example. These platforms have further been updated with AI features which can speed up workflow automation and provide new app recommendations.
In the past decade, low-code development has been growing increasingly popular. Gartner Inc. predicts by 2026, developers outside of IT departments will account for at least 80% of low-code development users. It’s estimated the global market for such technologies will reach $26.9 billion by 2023 – a 19.6% increase from the previous year.
CarMax Inc. CIO Shamim Mohammad believes for low-code tools to reach their full potential, generative AI should be integrated. He believes requiring fewer software engineering resources and allowing users to rapidly create powerful business tools can be partially achieved with the addition of such technologies. Microsoft’s corporate vice president of business applications and platform, Charles Lamanna, agrees; he believes the ability to communicate with computers in natural language will open up application development to more people.
To stay ahead of the competition, low-code developers are looking to generative AI for assistance – however, some CIOs are concerned about the reliability of such technology. Bubble Group Inc. co-CEO Joshua Haas recognises generative AI and low-code technologies are converging, with the latter offering a language for the former to communicate to the user.
Park Industries Inc. IT director David Lloyd believes rather than implementing such AI tools alone, they should be integrated into a low-code platform. This way, any risks are minimized and the value of code development tools for businesses increased. Pegasystems Inc. CTO Don Schuerman and IT consultancy AVOA’s Tim Crawford both agree, with the latter noting CIOs are preparing to find tools that improve automation using AI.
OutSystems is a leading provider of low-code platforms. Founded in 2001 by Paulo Rosado, the company helps users without technical know-how build websites and applications. Rosado believes the wave of automating software production will propel those who survive the industry shakeup upwards. Microsoft is similarly investing billions into OpenAI, the San Francisco-based lab behind breakthrough technology ChatGPT, and has already began augmenting its low-code platform with the AI’s GPT-3 model.
