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The WP Minute brings you news about WordPress in under 5 minutes -- every week! Follow The WP Minute for the WordPress headlines before you get lost in the headlines. Hosted by Matt Medeiros, host of The Matt Report podcast.
Eric Karkovack: Hi everyone, and welcome
to another episode of the WP Minute.
I'm your host, Eric Kovac.
Today we'll look at the
rise of AI website builders.
This comes on the heels of a new
AI powered tool from wordpress.com.
Should freelancers be worried about
this trend, let's take a deeper look.
What do AI site builders
mean for freelancers?
Being a freelance web designer
often means dealing with disruption.
Sometimes it's a client who needs a new
feature built ASAP, but it can also come
from a shakeup in the technology we use.
Artificial intelligence has
undoubtedly been a disruptive force.
It has upended our workflows and
made some of us wary of US presence.
Are these apps here to help
us or replace us perhaps?
AI site builders are the most
cringe inducing tools of them all.
They claim to take the guesswork
out of website creation.
You don't need to know code or how to
pick a font pairing, provide a few details
and you have a functioning website.
Several companies have released
AI based site generators.
wordpress.com
is among the latest, our own.
Matt Eros took it for a spin.
He chatted with a friendly bot
that wanted to know more about
his website needs within minutes.
He had a website powered by WordPress.
These tools aren't producing top
agency level websites just yet.
Maybe they're a novelty for the
time being, but they'll improve.
With that comes the worry of
their impact on freelancers.
Will our potential clients choose
a bot over a seasoned expert?
Let's explore what AI site builders
could mean for the future of freelancing.
Do they signal the end of an era or
are they just another tool for the DIY
crowd who are AI site builders for?
Before we get bent outta shape,
it's important to consider the
target market for AI site builders
that will tell us if they're an
immediate threat to freelancers.
These tools are currently
aimed at the DIY user.
They aren't much different from
the other quickie builders.
We've seen that the next iteration
of GoDaddy's website tonight, or
the Wix drag and drop experience.
Not coincidentally, both
companies have introduced AI
to their budget site toolkits.
The sites they produce aren't meant
to compete with a custom build.
AI is there to add
convenience to the menu.
For example, the wordpress.com
builder will generate
text and images for you.
There's simple websites for those who
don't want to break the bank with custom
graphics or high-end functionality.
A marketing strategy or expert SEO
service might be overkill for this market.
Does that sound familiar?
It is like the technology is
here to remix the same old song.
There isn't much revenue potential
for freelancers in the short term.
Like other site builders.
The potential lies in clients
who need a more robust website.
That realization could take a while
to come to fruition, though the
technology will improve to a point.
The site builders we
see today will evolve.
Just think of how far AI has
come in the past two years.
The technology continues to
boost its speed and capabilities.
We'll see similar improvements
in everything that relies on it,
but it's fair to wonder how far
this will take a site builder.
The user experience may
become more polished.
Their design capabilities may level up.
A better understanding of user context
could mean better generative content.
Yet an automated tool can
only do so much, right.
There must be a line when a professional
is needed, like when a user doesn't
know what features they need to
achieve their goals, or the project
becomes too big to do themselves.
This is where we come back to the
level of clientele these tools serve.
It's hard to imagine them
climbing the ladder to
institutional or enterprise users.
They're not likely to
build complete solutions.
Now, there may come a time when
large organizations use a builder to
generate a wire frame of their site.
From there, they can build
features and customize the look.
Freelancers might do the same.
AI becomes a starting point
in that scenario, not the sole
engine behind the project.
Humans will still need to be involved.
For freelancers, it's
all about positioning.
Perhaps the current class of AI site
billers won't steal potential clients.
Maybe they're not intended for
projects we consider to be worthwhile.
That doesn't mean we
should rest on our laurels.
Companies selling AI as a solution
have big advertising budgets.
They can position their services as a
cure-all for anyone who needs a website.
Squarespace, Wix and others
routinely use this playbook.
Those tools have a place in the market.
However, freelancers and
agencies must position themselves
as the better alternative.
We should emphasize our expertise and
attention to detail and communicate that
AI is a helpful tool, not a magic wand.
Our other advantage is
in customer service.
We develop one-on-one
relationships with clients and
learn about their organization.
We offer sound advice based
on experience, not algorithms.
As professionals, we guide clients
through their entire online journey.
We're there for the first build and
the maintenance that comes after.
We also help them adapt to
an ever-changing landscape.
That's the type of value a bot
can't match and probably never will.
All right.
That's a wrap for this
episode of the WP Minute.
I'd love to know your thoughts
on the role of AI site builders.
Hit me up on Blue sky@kas.com.
That's KAR ks.com.
And don't forget to visit
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we do and make your voice heard.
Thanks for listening, and
we'll see you next time.