How is Machine Learning Changing Web Development?

There can be little doubt that machine learning will continue to affect many areas of business in the foreseeable future. Its ability to deal with large sets of data and crunch them into something meaningful that business people can put into action is compelling. Indeed, machine learning algorithms are already being deployed to a significant extent in web development. How does this trend manifest itself? Read on to find out.

Website Duplication

To begin with, machine learning is being used to an increasing extent to duplicate websites. Simply copying one website with another isn't the name of the game, however. Machine learning can be used to take the best bits of several websites and create a synthesis of them. Even better, if a business has a successful website catering to one market niche but wants to also serve another, all that is needed is to register new domain names and set up parallel brands.

Artificial intelligence can be used to make the new sites function just the same way as the original one with enough superficial differences to appeal to different market segments without being too similar. Given domain names are readily available to suit different brand identities these days, using machine learning rather than human web developers to set up new sites is not only cheaper but often results in superior, more targeted outcomes.

Online Imagery

In the past, stock images used to be the mainstay of website design. Of course, stock images still exist but the trouble with them is that they can appear on multiple sites or cost the website owner who uses them if they want exclusivity. Today, machine learning can produce unique images of photo-like quality from stock images or even bespoke graphic designs. This way, web developers can give their sites a truly one-off look without needing to resort to run-of-the-mill stock images.

UX Optimisation

The user experience, or UX, is all-important in modern web design. However, UX is usually worked out before a site is designed. With machine learning, it is possible to radically alter the layout and feel of a site even after it has gone live to continue to improve the UX. By taking a data-driven approach to UX, it is now possible to offer visitors to corporate websites the sort of professional environment they'd expect to encounter.

Indeed, it is possible to have websites automatically alter content for different cultural expectations, such as showing text in the native language of the visitor, for example. Such optimizations aren't just for corporate websites, however, and are often just as effective within the context of e-commerce platforms, helping to signpost visitors toward point-of-sale destinations.

Machine Learning In Web Development: A Summary

It is fair to say that some of the ways artificial intelligence and machine learning will impact web development down the line have yet to be thought of. Nevertheless, machine learning and big data analysis are already changing the traditional model of website development that's been around for almost three decades or so. With so much more yet to come, web developers should take note of just how far we've come in recent years already.