How a Web Developer Uses AI... Without Letting It Take Over
Let’s be real: AI is everywhere right now. From content to code to “design,” it’s tempting to ask ChatGPT or some magical site builder to just do all the work. And sure, it can help. I even use it myself – because why not let a robot save me some time?
But here’s the catch: AI is a tool. Not a strategist. Not a designer. Not a web developer. And definitely not a replacement for thoughtful, human decision-making.
Here’s how I do use AI – and what I’ll never hand off to a bot.
🧹 The boring stuff? Automate it.
There are plenty of things AI can help with – and I’m not afraid to let it handle the tedious bits:
- Drafting boilerplate content to clean up later
- Generating image alt text
- Writing code snippets for simple styling tasks
- Suggesting content outlines or basic wireframes
It speeds things up. It clears mental clutter. It’s like a super-fast assistant who sometimes gets things weirdly wrong but still helps you get to the finish line faster.
🧠 The smart stuff? That’s still me.
AI doesn’t know your audience, your goals, your voice, or your vibe. It can’t tell if your layout is confusing, if your branding feels inconsistent, or if your mobile site is dropping the ball.
I still handle:
- Strategy and structure
- UX decisions
- Performance tuning
- Accessibility
- Custom styling
- Design consistency
- All the “why” behind what gets built
AI can spit out code or placeholder text – but it has no idea if it’s good. That’s where actual experience (hi, 25+ years of it 🙋♀️) comes in.
🤝 Humans first, always
I’m not anti-AI. I’m pro-human.
AI is part of my workflow – it helps me deliver faster, stay creative, and experiment more. But I’ll never hand you a robot-built site and walk away.
You’re hiring me for the thinking, not just the typing.
🚧 What AI Gets Wrong (If You’re Not Careful)
AI seems smart – but it has no instincts, no context, and no clue what matters most to you. Here’s where things usually go sideways:
- Outdated or inaccurate info: It’s not always pulling from real-time data. That “SEO tip” it gave you? Might be from 2018.
- Design that makes no sense: AI-generated layouts often ignore basic UX, mobile behavior, or visual hierarchy.
- Overconfident code: It’ll give you a solution – but that doesn’t mean it’s the right one. Half the time, it doesn’t even work properly out of the box.
- Messy rabbit holes: Ask the wrong follow-up, and you’ll end up with 14 versions of the same mediocre idea and no clue what’s actually good.
Bottom line? AI needs a human driver. Left to its own devices, it’ll steer you into a ditch.
✅ TL;DR: I use AI - but I still use my brain
Need a site that’s efficient and thoughtful? Want to mix in some smart tools without going full robot overlord? I’ve got you.
Let’s make something awesome – with the best of both worlds: smart tools, smart strategy, and a human who still gets excited about building websites the right way.
Check out pricing and services here or reach out with questions any time!
