AI does not tell the truth.
I am just coming to the end of a fascinating technical project. I have almost finished building an IOS/Android native app for squaredeal.
The reason it is fascinating is that the entire technical build has been accomplished using AI. The command line has built all our code. I should fess up a caveat here, that my business partner is a superb programmer and on hand should or when AI has lost the plot.
I hear many commentators talking up the existential threat that AI poses to humankind. Only time will tell how AI is going to shape our societies, however for business, the tools are here.
The bottom line is this. 18 months ago we could not have developed an IOS/Android native app within 3 months without a team of talented developers and testers.
We still have some issues, mostly notably with Apple Developer requirements and implementing Stripe subscriptions in tandem with our web offering. AI tries to help here, but it is nowhere near where we need to be.
However, AI has understood our Supabase back-end, developed authentication, navigation and routing, built triggers, functions and webhooks. It has added edge function and most importantly delivered all CRUD functionality.
I LOVE IT!
But let's talk bottom sheets.
Bottom sheets are those page that appear in your app from the bottom of the page. You can interact with the content present on the sheet, cancel the sheet or dismiss it on press.
There is a superb React Native/Expo evangelist called Simon Grimm:
He's a fantastic teacher and has a specialist niche in React Native / Expo. He comes very highly recommended.
That is, except for bottom sheets.
His suggestion is to use a third party solution called Gorhomm bottom sheet. This started off working fantastically, then the curse of the app dependency struck. In short, React Native depends on dependencies on packages to deliver its functionality. A bottom sheet is simply one of thousands.
There was a problem with regards to dependencies between Gorhomm bottom sheet and the version of React that I had installed on my Mac. This is incredibly frustrating and is a huge headache for building IOS/Android native apps.
The issue here is that as with most services in business, time is money. We were wasting time.
But this is not where AI got into a huge tangle. It diagnosed that dependencies were the issue and even suggested a solution that I have already decided upon from another source.
The issue was that AI could not distinguish between the word 'bottom sheet' from Gorhomm bottom sheet, and 'mimmick the functionality of a bottom sheet' from react-native-modal. Now this is relatively tricky, as I wanted to use a modal set up (that's a box that appears normally in the centre of a screen with opacity behind it) and style it to work like a bottom sheet with both styling and animation.
But AI.... not a clue. It could not understand me.
I cannot talk highly enough of how AI enables you to build an app in a weekend. Build a side hustle in a few days! How cool is that! However, when the pressure is on and things do not make sense, AI can lie.
The issue is that as a trusted associate, a personal assistant, you start to rely on your friend.
However, seen as a personal assistant.... there is probably nothing better for business.
Over the course of the last 18 months I have witnessed the maturing of AI services. The speed of change has been nothing short of stellar.
AI services are in the midst of a feeding frenzy. You hear talk of an AI Gold Rush, that is more to do with the insane amount of money that it poring into the industry. There will be winners and losers, and you will hear investors use phrases like 'first in, first out'.
However today, there are multiple stable AI tools for business that can revolutionise every element of your organisation; People, operations, IT, finance, marketing, sales and legal services.
I have no doubt that within a few weeks AI will understand their bottom sheets from their animated modals.
Within another 18 months.... I simply cannot predict how far AI tools will have changed business service delivery. Hold on to your hats.
James Pickering
Contact James Pickering
