Exploring Google’s AI: A Civil Engineer’s Journey into Code-Free Application Development

Recently, I embarked on an intriguing adventure by diving into Google’s AI model. Over the past two weekends, I found myself both captivated and unnerved by the experience.

A Little About Me

To provide some context, I am a civil engineer focused on design and project management—I have no background in coding or computer science. However, intrigued by the advancements in artificial intelligence, I signed up for a free student license to experiment with Google’s latest AI tool.

My objective was straightforward: I wanted to determine whether someone without technical expertise could utilize this new wave of technology to create a simple application for tracking my small-scale projects.

Creating My Vision

The goal was nothing extravagant—just a basic application that could help me monitor project health through charts and financial tracking. While we already have software that serves this purpose, I envisioned a tool tailored to my specific needs.

After dedicating nearly eight hours last weekend to this endeavor, I interacted with the AI as if consulting with a team of software developers. To my astonishment, the model generated complete code for me. It guided me on which programs to install and provided precise instructions on where to place the code.

The Results

The outcome was impressive. I successfully created a small application without any prior coding knowledge. Although it’s not flawless and requires further refinement, it functions well enough for my requirements. The fulfillment of crafting a tool that aligns with my vision is incredibly rewarding.

The Dual Nature of AI

At the same time, I am haunted by the potential of this technology. As the capabilities of AI models continue to evolve and improve, I can’t help but feel a sense of apprehension about what this means for the future.

What’s Next?

In the upcoming week, I plan to leverage this newfound understanding to develop more small-scale applications. I look forward to pushing the boundaries of my creativity with the help of AI.

As I continue this exploration, I welcome any advice or feedback from those experienced in this domain. If I’ve misused any tags or categories in this post, please do inform me!

Stay tuned for more updates as I navigate through this exciting venture!