How AI Makes Me a Better Web Developer (Not a Replaced One)

Let’s get this out of the way:
Yes, I use AI. Almost every day.
No, I’m not afraid of it taking my job.
In fact… it’s made me better at what I do.

If you’re feeling uncertain about how AI fits into the creative or tech world, you’re not alone. I hear it all the time — “Isn’t that cheating?” or “Aren’t you worried AI will replace developers?”

But here’s the thing:
AI isn’t a replacement for me.
It’s a tool I use to make my work faster, smoother, and — most importantly — more focused on you.

⚙️ How I Actually Use AI as a Developer

I’m not asking ChatGPT to write full websites. (I mean… I’ve tried that. You can read about how badly it went here.)

What I do use AI for:

  • Brainstorming page outlines or content structure
  • Drafting wireframe ideas or flowcharts
  • Double-checking snippets of code or syntax
  • Helping explain complex tech in simple words
  • Speeding up blog post drafts (hi 👋)

 

Here’s what it doesn’t do:

  • Choose the best plugin based on your business goals
  • Understand your customers’ behavior and design for it
  • Catch the weird bug caused by a plugin conflict and theme override
  • Know that you’re launching next week and feeling stressed about it
  • Offer empathy, strategy, and humor along the way

 

That’s me. That’s the human part.

🧠 25 Years of Web Knowledge > 3 Years of AI

AI is brilliant. But I’ve been in the web world for 25+ years.
I’ve tested, broken, rebuilt, streamlined, and sorted through just about every approach out there. I’ve lived this work.

I don’t just know what works — I know why it works, what pitfalls to avoid, and which solutions are worth skipping entirely (even when AI says otherwise).

That means:

I can spot issues immediately and skip the trial-and-error

I’ve already tried 90% of the things AI might suggest

I can blend its speed with my own experience for faster, better outcomes

👉 Bonus: AI helps me cut my troubleshooting time in half.
I don’t need to sift through 10 browser tabs or crawl through old forum threads to find that one syntax fix — AI and I solve it together. Quickly.

🤖 The Fear Is Real — But It’s Misplaced

There’s a lot of noise about AI “replacing jobs,” and if you’re a business owner hearing that tools like Wix or AI website builders can make a full site for $19/month… that sounds tempting.

But those tools aren’t strategic. They don’t know what makes your site work. They don’t know your voice, your audience, or your long-term goals.

And if you’ve ever tried one of those AI site builders?
You know they get about 70% of the way there — and then completely lose the plot.

So yes, AI can build something — but it won’t build the right thing without guidance. That’s where I come in.

💡 Why I Think Everyone Should Be Using AI

I don’t gatekeep. I want you to try tools that help you move faster and save money — including AI.

If you’re writing your own blog posts, AI can help you brainstorm or organize.
If you’re stuck on a headline, it can throw out 20 options in 5 seconds.
If you’re updating your site and confused about settings, it can walk you through.

Use the tools. Just don’t confuse them for a real developer.

🙋‍♀️ Human First. Always.

I work in tech. But I work with people.

AI is a powerful assistant, but it doesn’t build relationships, think critically across disciplines, or stick with you after launch to make sure everything is working beautifully.

That’s the part that matters most in this job — and I’m proud to say I still do it all myself.

If you’re curious how I use AI responsibly — or just want help untangling some tech chaos — I’m right here.
Human, experienced, and happy to help.

Let's Chat 🤙