Professionals in many industries are exploring the possibilities and limitations of automation, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. AI is making significant advancements (and news headlines) in everything from healthcare to vehicle manufacturing to digital art. But does it work for website design?
In 2016, Wix introduced Artificial Design Intelligence, or Wix ADI. Wix ADI is being marketed as the first available AI tool for web design. While Wix ADI is a great tool for small business owners and beginner web designers to create basic websites, creative customization through human intervention is still the best approach for more robust web development.
What is Wix ADI?
Wix ADI is a tool that allows anyone to create a fully-functional website, for free, in just minutes. It uses artificial intelligence and automation to streamline the content creation and design process, which can be quite time-consuming when done the old fashioned way.
Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) uses data gathered from millions of Wix users, content from around the web, and advanced algorithms to build your site. You answer a few simple questions, and Wix ADI creates a website tailored to your business category and location, complete with images, video, and text.
You can still customize the look and content of your site later, but Wix ADI is designed to simplify the user experience by completing the most time-consuming tasks for you at the start of the design process.
Is Wix ADI Any Good?
Does a free, instant, low-effort website sound too good to be true? Like most new technology and software, Wix ADI has some great features but also some limitations. Let’s break down what’s great about Wix ADI and what needs to be developed further.
Pros of Wix ADI
Wix ADI offers an extremely simple user interface. Ease of use is one of Wix’s greatest selling points to begin with, but Wix ADI takes it to a new level.
The user merely needs to answer questions and click to customize elements after they’re added. Using this AI tool saves time and effort at the outset, as Wix ADI automates a lot of the work of initial website creation.
Another pro is that Wix ADI can potentially inspire you if you’re unsure what content you need for your web pages. Since it automatically adds relevant content you can review, it’s a great way to get past an initial creative block. You’ll have an instant working draft that you can further hone to fit your brand and goals.
Like many of Wix’s other offerings, Wix ADI is also very affordable. You can use Wix ADI for free and get a basic website package, with the option to upgrade to a premium plan for more features. Finally, you can easily switch to the standard Wix Editor later if you want more creative control.
Cons of Wix ADI
The major downside of Wix ADI is that you only get a basic website and have limited customization options while creating your site. Compared to the Wix Editor, ADI offers fewer editing and design tools.
You also do not have the option to choose from Wix’s wide range of templates as you do in the Wix Editor. To streamline the process, ADI fills in your website for you based on your input to the questions it asks. However, this means that you might find it difficult to get your website to look exactly like you want.
Arguably the most notable drawback is that Wix ADI also does not give you access to the complete Wix app market, which you get with the Wix Editor.
Wix ADI is Helpful for Initial Stages of Web Design
Wix ADI is a good start, but it still needs work. With machine learning and algorithm upgrades, we may see an even more advanced Wix ADI in the future.
Right now, it’s great for entrepreneurs, startups, web design beginners, and businesses with a low budget for web development. However, for a more robust website, we recommend using the standard Wix Editor.
While Wix ADI has made great strides in basic web design automation, a human element is still needed for more advanced digital marketing strategies like search engine optimization and competitor analysis.
Wix ADI vs Wix Editor: Which Should You Choose?
When you decide to create a website with Wix.com, you’ll have the option early on in the process to choose either Wix ADI or the Wix Editor to create your website. Ultimately, which one you should choose depends on your business goals and the user experience you want. Remember, you can easily switch between the two later if you wish.
Choosing Wix ADI may be best if your goal is to create a basic website quickly or if you don’t have a clear vision of what you want your site to look like. Wix ADI offers a low-cost option for anyone to easily start their own professional-looking business website in just minutes and makes it easy for beginners. If you want a simple, low-stress process that gets you to a finished website as fast as possible, or if you’re not quite sure what your website needs, Wix ADI might be for you.
You should choose the Wix Editor if you want complete creative control over every aspect of your website. The Wix Editor offers unmatched customizability, which is critical in the digital marketing world. It may make for a more lengthy workflow to get to a publishable website. However, the drag-and-drop interface is still accessible for web designers of all experience levels to navigate without needing to understand HTML or programming languages. You’ll also have access to hundreds of templates and web apps from the Wix marketplace.
WIX ADI Streamlines Web Design With Ease, But Its Functionality Doesn’t Compare to Custom Web Development
Wix ADI has made an exciting start for automation in web design, but the human element continues to be as important as ever. Even the most advanced AI and automation tools can’t yet replace the services of a professional web designer, especially when it comes to SEO and other digital marketing strategies.