App Development becoming Synonymous to Artificial Intelligence
Ever since vacuum tubes presented themselves as a superior, relentless and untiring mode of computation, humans have envisioned an age of the Jetsons. The progression of this technology from its massive scale to now a palm top necessity, computers have evolved and mutated mighty quickly. The early aughts focused on making this technology accessible and simplifying usability with engaging operating systems that used superior language processors and were programmed to exhibit operations in simple and understandable languages. Wireless phones were also steadily gaining popularity and being experimented upon with programming. As these devices steadily became more vogue and accessible, the technology had to be improved for maintaining competitiveness and the concept of computers understanding the users really began to emerge.
Computers have been learning, and not only has their usability improved tremendously in the past two decades, but also, their capability to understand human beings has taken massive strides. Our smartphones, smart watches and air pods are now perhaps our most important appendages. From tracking our work emails to monitoring our heath to keeping track of our vast networks of people, advances in technology have condensed just about everything to suit the command of our whim. We did digress from some of our older sci-fi fantasies and instead of having everything at the push of a button, did one better, and managed to develop code such that gestures of our digits became the control system. Thus, making it crucial for AI (Artificial Intelligence) to become an integral part of all future App Development processes.
What Changes will AI bring to the App Development Terrain.
In a world where everything is at the tip and swipe of our opposable thumbs, it is very important for applications to conform to smarter means of communicating as well as comprehending information. While merits and perils of Artificial Intelligence have continued to be a topic of never-ending debate, Siri and Alexa have inconspicuously become household names and ‘Ok Google’ has become an instinct. The way people are easing into technology requires the technology itself to become cognitive or at least resemble reliable cognition. Technology giants such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple and IBM are leading the Artificial Intelligence movement with their massive data holding capabilities and so far, have also been pioneering the development of AI based apps. Certainly, as consumers are getting used to having themselves understood by their mobile devices, it is important for App Development companies that are ambitious to enter into AI, to understand the changes that the use of AI will bring about in the methods, process and protocols of App Development going forward. This article discusses some such implications of the introduction of Artificial Intelligence in the development of applications.
- Data Science Training
The field of Data Science has existed since the early 1960s. Researchers have been using data analysis for predicting outcomes with various degrees of success and have seen its implementation across many fields ranging from prediction of the stock market behavior to utilizing consumer data for predicting market trends and developing effective marketing strategies. Data Science in recent years has been instrumental in developing code for mimicking intelligence, i.e., engineering Artificial Intelligence.
Universities and organizations across the world have hopped onboard the Data Science ship, offering their students elaborate courses and training in the application of Data Sciences to improve software experience. This has become one of the core skills that recruiters hiring for Developers look for in the candidates. Skills and understanding of Data Sciences are expected to be very valuable in the coming years.
2. Cross Platform Development
When it comes to devices utilizing application software, the list varies based on the type of device, such as, tablet, smartwatch, smartphone, PCs, or Laptops as well as on the type of platform, such as, Windows, IOS, and Android. Cross platform development ensures that the application being developed conforms to all requirements and specifics of all of these device variations. Instead of developing different applications for each device variation, it makes a lot more sense that the development trends in the future will be more inclined to developing applications in a one size fits all model.
3. Machine Learning
Machine Learning, another term that has recently been buzzing around in technological circles, is a method of data analysis through which construction and upgradation of analytical models is automated. The application of machine learning ensures that the code learns from the data received and makes adjustments for subsequent use based on methods of predictive analysis. Machine learning is another important skill for aspiring software professionals to master, as well as IT businesses to fund, invest in and promote.
4. Dynamic Shift in Market Competition
The IT devices, software and applications’ market is governed by things such as quality and usability of products. However, as the products in the market are offering more and more cognitively abled software the consumer’s inclination to buy is being affected by an additional factor, i.e., adaptability. Each user has their own preferences, with the application of technologies such as machine learning information is gathered based on the user’s habits. The user’s routines and their motions and gestures are thus learned by the device from the user behavior. These are used to make adjustments and provide personalized responses. This ability to adapt will be an important consideration for the consumers going ahead.
5. Ensuring Data Privacy
Large amounts of data are held by the biggest cloud storage providers of the world. It is the access to such massive amounts of data that enables these companies to create Artificial Intelligence applications such as Alexa and Siri. However, the data that is being analyzed contains personal information about the preferences of different people. Privacy laws such as GDPR and CCPA are being adopted across the world to ensure that this data is not misused or used for any other purposes than it was collected. Data in current times is seen both as a commodity and a personal asset. Various global regulations that are coming up will have a significant effect on how the data is managed by these companies and in turn, pave out the path for analytics required for development of Artificial Intelligence.
The Road Ahead
Whether we like it or find it too much of a hassle to comprehend and utilize, our lives have definitely been modified by advancing technology. And from the looks of it, developers are not backing down from the challenge of replicating functions of human cognition in machines. The evolving training courses and education structures are facilitating a large influx of trained professionals into the Application development market, but the issues with execution for production remain to be seen. Many software developers that have been in the trade for several years are upgrading their skills and learning new technologies for implementation of Artificial Intelligence. Data is emerging as a very important commodity and rules governing its manipulation and use will also play a very important role in designing the future landscape of Application Development.
It remains to be seen how swiftly organizations adapt to make this transition easier for their employees and their products more enticing to their customers. And also, what new avenues of technology and trade will open up as a consequence.
About the Author:
Gunjan Bhatnagar
Content Manager and Creative Head at TechRBM
A writer and poet that has the creative bug. She writes in Technological Spaces and manages a group of whacky people that create just as whacky content. You can find Gunjan on LinkedIn & Medium.
