AI in Web Development: Tools We Actually Use in Production

Separating Hype from Reality

We've tested dozens of AI tools over the past year. Some are genuinely transformative. Others are solutions looking for a problem. Here's our honest assessment of what works in production.

What We Use Daily

AI Coding Assistants

Tools like GitHub Copilot and Claude have become integral to our workflow. They don't write entire applications, but they dramatically speed up boilerplate code, test generation, and documentation. Our development velocity increased roughly 35% after adoption.

AI-Powered Design Tools

We use AI image generation for concept exploration and placeholder assets. Midjourney and DALL·E help us communicate design direction to clients faster than traditional mockups.

Content Optimization

AI tools like Clearscope help optimize blog content for search intent. They analyze top-ranking pages and suggest semantic keywords we might miss. The output still needs human editing, but the data is invaluable.

What Doesn't Work (Yet)

Fully AI-Generated Websites

Tools that promise "build a website with a prompt" produce generic, template-quality output. They're fine for landing pages, but fall short for anything requiring real UX thinking or brand differentiation.

AI-Only Copy

Raw AI-generated copy reads like AI-generated copy. Your customers can tell. We use AI as a starting point, but every word that ships has been edited by a human.

Our Approach

AI is a power tool, not a replacement for craftsmanship. A power drill doesn't make you a carpenter, but it makes a skilled carpenter faster.