From Brochures to Butlers: How AI Revolutionized Web Development

Over the years, websites have evolved through several major phases. Broadly speaking, we can think of them as existing on three levels:

1. Brochure-like
2. Mobile-friendly
3. AI-powered

Each level reflects not only changes in technology, but also changes in how people interact with the web.

Level 1: Brochure-like Websites

The first level of websites is what we often call “brochure-like” websites. These sites are mostly static and informational, similar to a printed brochure placed online.

Everything at this level is centered around the early standards of web technology. First came HTML, which defined the structure of a webpage. Then CSS was introduced to control layout and visual appearance. Later, JavaScript added basic interactivity.

In the early days, browsers such as Netscape dominated the web. Microsoft’s Internet Explorer followed, then Firefox emerged as a strong alternative. Today, Google Chrome is the most widely used browser in the world.

During this phase, websites were primarily designed for desktop computers with large screens. Content rarely changed, and user interaction was minimal. The website talked at users, not with them.

Level 2: Mobile-Friendly Websites

In 2007, Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone, triggering what we now call the “mobile revolution.” This moment exposed the limitations of brochure-style websites and forced the web to evolve.

The second level of websites focuses on adaptability. As smartphones and tablets became mainstream, websites needed to work well on screens of all sizes.

This shift was driven largely by advances in CSS, especially a core technology called media queries. The idea behind media queries is simple but powerful: the website layout responds to the size of the user’s screen.

On a small mobile phone, content is typically displayed in a single column for easy scrolling. On a tablet like an iPad, the screen may be wide enough to support two or even three columns. On a laptop, the layout can expand further. On a desktop with a large monitor, the content can spread out even more.

Importantly, this is still the same website. It simply adapts its appearance depending on the device. This responsiveness has become an expectation, not a luxury, and marked a major step forward in user experience.

Level 3: AI-Powered Websites

There is currently no universal agreement on what it means to be an “AI-powered website,” but we can look at it from at least two perspectives.

AI Features Inside the Website

The first aspect is the presence of AI-driven features. A common example is an AI-powered customer service chatbot, one that can answer questions based on information unique to a specific organization. These bots can go far beyond basic customer service. Many government and organizational websites now include chatbots that allow users to ask questions about services, policies, and procedures.

Interestingly, people often use these bots to ask questions they might hesitate to ask in person, such as someone’s age. Social norms that apply in face-to-face interactions don’t always carry over into cyberspace, especially when AI is involved. This subtle shift highlights how human behavior changes when interacting with intelligent systems through a website.

AI in the Website Creation Process

The second aspect of AI-powered websites is how they are built. AI agents are a newer and more powerful class of AI. Unlike simple prompt-response tools, AI agents can plan tasks, write and modify code, fix errors, and collaborate with developers across the entire website-building process.

Tools such as Cursor and Windsurf are already being used for AI-assisted development. We also recommend tools like Google Antigravity. With these AI agents, websites that once took weeks or months to build can now be completed in days or even hours.

The Bigger Picture

As AI agents become part of the website development process, both development time and cost can be significantly reduced. This shift is changing expectations for designers and developers, encouraging them to explore new tools and workflows. Professionals who learn to work alongside AI will be better positioned as the industry continues to evolve.

What do you think of AI-powered websites? We’d love to hear your thoughts.