What are the pros and cons of AI for website design?

In just a few hours, would you like to take your website from:

An idea...

...to a finished project?

If you use AI for website design, you can create a site quickly and easily. Considering the pros and cons can help you decide whether using an AI website builder is helpful for your design needs.

1. Efficient and Cost-Effective

Type in a prompt, and in a few minutes, AI will generate a finished site based on your ideas. AI will also do basic formatting and coding that can be automated, which frees up human designers for more complicated tasks.

Some AI website builders are free, but even a paid subscription gives you quicker output for less money than hiring a web designer.

Photo by Josh Appel on Unsplash

2. Coding Skills Not Required

AI website builders allow users without coding knowledge to design a polished-looking website. AI will even write content and find images for your website based on a prompt.

Photo by Florian Olivo on Unsplash

3. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Accessibility

If you give AI the SEO terms, it will weave the terms into the text it writes for your website so your website appears near the top of the search results. Some tools even suggest keywords to use.

AI will write alternative text for images and read out descriptions of images and videos. Features like an AI chatbot can make website navigation easier for all users.

Photo by Firosnv. Photography on Unsplash

4. Idea Generator

Even if you don't use AI for the majority of your website design, seeing the results from a prompt search can spark an idea that you can build on. You can use it like a colleague to bounce off ideas and discuss design elements.

Photo by AbsolutVision on Unsplash

1. Privacy and Copyright Concerns

If you give an AI tool your website content, the information could be shared with a third party. Depending on the website builder's privacy policy, this means that private information could be shared with outside parties.

AI sources content from other authors, and it's not always cited.

Photo by Dan Nelson on Unsplash

2. Potentially Time-Consuming

AI will create a website that follows best design practices, but a human expert still needs to make adjustments and correct mistakes. This can take up time any saved by using AI in the first place. Most AI website builders have a learning curve for their successful use.

Photo by Sonja Langford on Unsplash

3. Generic Content

Some AI website builders produce generic text and visuals, similar to the overuse of templates. Generating what you want could require writing very specific prompts, and the result still may not reflect your vision for your website and brand. Some tools have limited customization options, and to have better visuals, you need to upgrade.

Photo by Pankaj Patel on Unsplash

4. Non-Expert Design Process

AI won't push back against poor design ideas or know your audience as well as a human web designer would. AI is a computer creating a user experience for people, so it may not know what will appeal to your audience now and in the future.

Photo by John Schnobrich on Unsplash

Photo by Dai KE on Unsplash

Marieli is considering using AI to design a website for her home quilting business.

Which of these situations would be an appropriate use of AI for website design? Select all that apply:

A. Formatting the website using a consistent color scheme.

B. Building a website customized with detailed design specifications and branding.

C. Generating ideas for product descriptions.

Before you start using AI for website design: