Exploring Google’s AI: A Civil Engineer’s Journey into DIY App Development

Over the past two weekends, I embarked on an intriguing journey with one of Google’s latest artificial intelligence models. The experience has left me both impressed and a little unsettled.

Let me share a bit about my background. As a civil engineer specializing in design and project management, I don’t have any formal training in coding or computer science. Despite this, I decided to enroll in the free student license program for Google’s new AI tool, eager to explore its potential for someone without a tech-focused background.

My goal was simple: to create a small application to track my personal projects. I sought a tool that could generate basic charts, manage finances, and provide an overview of project health. We already use existing software for this purpose, but I wanted something tailored to my specific needs.

I dedicated approximately eight hours last weekend to interacting with the AI, treating it as if I were collaborating with a team of developers. Remarkably, the model generated complete code for my project, guiding me on which programs to install and where to implement the code.

The outcome far exceeded my expectations. I was able to create a functioning application without any prior coding knowledge. While the program isn’t flawless and could certainly use refinement, it serves my requirements effectively.

However, I can’t shake off a sense of apprehension about the capabilities of these AI models. Their potential for improvement is staggering, and I find myself wondering about the implications of such rapid advancements.

In the coming week, I plan to develop additional small-scale applications, eager to see how far I can take this newfound skill and the AI’s capabilities.

Stay tuned for updates on my journey into the world of DIY app development with AI!