There are many reasons why you should build a website in three hours, and there are certain people who might want to do something like that: a creative person who loves the idea of using artificial intelligence to make things, for example, or the solopreneur who needs a landing page to connect with new customers as quickly as possible.
Or me, the person who has already entertained the idea of creating a website, yet is overwhelmed by the glut of creative talent, brand identity and design companies for hire… and is hyper-aware of the steps between the first brainstorming and launching phase of a website design project.
I first heard of Wix in 2016, but I hadn’t looked into it that far since I was committed to another design platform. So when I noticed that some of the latest AI offerings included an upgraded website builder, I thought this would be a good time to test out Wix as a website domain – and check out its take on AI. (I have to admit, my curiosity was swayed by it being number 1 on CNET’s Website Builder list.)
Wix ADI vs Wix AI
Wix’s first version of its website builder, Wix ADI, was launched as a faster way to build websites. After you enter your design requirements and preferences, ADI responds with design options based on this input. This allows you to adjust the design process in an effort to make designing less of a big task and more of a guided approach.
The target audience is someone with no design experience who is looking for simplification and convenience, but you still need a subscription, which ranges between $17 and $159 per month, to access it.
The main difference between Wix ADI and the newer Wix AI is that Wix AI is an improvement on ADI – the next generation of site creation, “which offers more advanced design and content generation capabilities, as well as a suite of Wix’s AI-powered tools designed to improve your increase productivity and reduce the effort required to create the website you envision.”
With new AI upgrades including a chat system that uses natural language processing – machine learning that helps machines communicate in human language, like the Bing and ChatGPT chatbots – to understand your vision, Wix AI’s response is a more personalized website outcome. Moreover, Wix AI is free to use.
How Wix AI delivers website design… in 30 minutes
I appreciate the playfulness of Wix AI’s Website Builder. To anticipate the creative possibilities ahead, this was supported by the landing page user experience.
Once I entered the Wix Site Creation area, I was greeted with a message to start a chat about my website project. The footer reminds you that “AI can make mistakes,” so as always, be sure to double-check the accuracy of the suggestions. It also advises you not to share personal information, something you should always keep in mind when using AI chatbots: keep personal and sensitive information out of the picture to avoid the risk of data leaks.
These were the steps for setting up my website on Wix AI:
1: The Website Builder first inquired about my Site name, site type, Site applications and my project Goals. I was then asked about the services I would offer and any specific end goals for the website.
2: I was asked about specific features that would support these goals. I didn’t know the answer to this, so I asked Wix AI for some suggestions.
3: The natural language processing system then took those answers and generated a website for me. It included a Site overview which breaks down what structures have been added to my website, plus the ability to do so Make it a little different or generate the site. I ended up using this feature because I wasn’t happy with the first shot – which included a stock photo of a hand that literally couldn’t be mine, nor my target audience.
4: Wix’s second attempt at a website design was more tailored, including a mosaic style that worked well with my simple, organized vision. From here you can adjust the content and design details: typography, images, colors, line widths, text and moving design blocks.
5: My website resulted in five blocks, inclusive Website menu/home page, Offers, Gallery Showcase, Philosophy And Footer. Knowing that I could easily spend the remaining 150 minutes of my initial expectation switching and refining each part of my site, I was happy with what Wix built for me in 30 minutes.
Should You Try Wix’s AI Website Builder?
The website design that Wix AI came up with for me.
As someone who took (and quickly left) a $1,000 website design course, I enjoyed the Wix AI Website Builder for its design process. The chat system was my favorite part; it felt like I was working one-on-one with a design consultant. And because it forced me to think about my end goal and design needs (which I think is half the battle), navigating a website design once the structure is laid out based on your specific needs feels much more accessible.
Now I definitely label myself as someone with no design experience, who has little time (and patience), and whose end goal was to come up with something only to consider it completed. The Wix AI Website Builder isn’t made for someone who designs on a daily basis, but a design-savvy professional might find building websites a fun tool to navigate and explore. And for someone with no design experience, it made the task easy, possible and fast.
I could name countless activities that waste 30 minutes — you know, activities that seemingly take like three hours — but I wouldn’t put Wix AI’s Website Builder at the top there. We all deserve to express our needs and have them met, even if it is with an artificial intelligence platform.
And it listens! And responds accordingly. Fascinating.
