How to build your own app with AI

Plan your app

Brainstorm or refine your app idea with AI. If all you know is that you want to create an app but aren’t sure what type of app to make, ask generative AI to highlight some ideas for you. Or, if you already have an app in mind, ask for ways to improve it. Try these prompts to get app ideas or plan your app:

• What types of apps would be beneficial for bodybuilders?
• I want to create a dog-walking app. What are key features the app should include?
• What are niche markets that an app developer should tap into?
• I’m interested in creating an app that helps people live more sustainably. Create a bullet-point outline of how this app would function.

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AI project management

If you work alone on an app or with a small team, you might not have a designated project manager. Focus on bringing your app to life while letting AI work as your project manager. Use these prompts to get project management assistance:

• I need to launch an app by [date]. Create a timeline of objectives that I need to reach by then.
• I have $5,000 to spend on creating an app. Help me create and manage my budget for this app.
• Identify potential bottlenecks that I might encounter while building a grocery store delivery app.
• I’m making an app that uses augmented reality (AR) to try on nail polish colors virtually. Create a team meeting schedule for the next 10 weeks to help my team finish the app. Please note that some of the team is located in California while others are in New York, so choose times that aren’t too late or too early for us.

Write and review code

Most AI platforms understand various coding languages, like Python, JavaScript, and HTML/CSS. If you’re not a coding expert, let AI assist you. Ask generative AI to review the code you’ve written or create code for you. Try these prompts:

• Review my code and let me know if there are any crucial errors that I need to correct. Put the errors in bold so that I know where to fix them.
• Write code for an app landing page that lets people submit frequently asked questions to the developers.
• Review this code for any security issues that might occur.
• Are there any issues in this code that are reducing the speed of my app?

Generate or proofread in-app content

Apps need copy to increase user engagement and provide a better user experience. If you’re not sure what text to add to your app pages, describe the purpose of your page to AI and ask it to recommend copy to include. AI also reviews what you’ve written to check for typos or grammatical issues. Check out these example prompts:

• Write a few sentences about the benefits of hiring a dog walker for my dog-walking app.
• My app mostly uses “Learn More” call-to-action buttons. Suggest more call-to-action buttons to keep each page engaging.
• Translate this copy into Spanish.
• Write frequently asked questions for my weather app.

Marketing your app

Marketing your app is crucial if you want it to get exposure and more downloads. AI will write social media captions, copy for the app marketplace, and more. Try these prompts:

• I’ve created an app for women to find friends in their area. My target market is women ages 25 through 35. Create an engaging app marketplace description.
• I’m running social media ads for my hiking app. Provide five versions of ad copy for these ads.
• Create an outline for a blog post about my app.
• Come up with 10 short video ideas I can use to promote my app on social media.

Creating an app is an exciting and rewarding process. Learn more about AI, and see how it can help you manage deadlines or set realistic goals.