I assume you also followed CES 2024 and the innovations presented during the event, like all technology enthusiasts. Among many other announcements, one was the partnership between Siemens Mendix and AWS Bedrock. Essentially, it will become seamlessly accessible for those leveraging the Mendix platform to integrate Generative AI in their applications.

In case you are unfamiliar with Amazon Bedrock, it is a fully managed service offered by AWS that makes models from Amazon and third-party AI startups available through an API. It allows you to choose from various LLMs to find the best model for your use case. This capability in a low-code application development platform enables citizen developers to easily embed Generative AI capability in their applications, offering end-users significantly enhanced capabilities.

There are two angles to look at partnerships like these. The one above allows developers to embed Generative AI capabilities in their applications. As the devices on which LLMs can run expand (read my article about Apple’s research on running LLMs on mobile phones), the opportunities to build “interesting” Generative AI applications also broaden. Partnerships like these will be critical. ChatGPT already has a massive lead in terms of being used extensively by app developers. One way competitors can close the gap is by helping the users of these application development platforms understand how they can use Generative AI in their applications, thereby proliferating their use.

The second aspect is to leverage Generative AI to make the low-code/no-code app development much more intuitive. This will help the low-code solution provider market their solution more effectively by highlighting the enhanced value an “intuitive” low-code app development platform can provide. Buyers generally look at these investments in terms of the possible number of users for these solutions within their organizations. While the revenue model may be by users, price brackets with more users are more cost-effective on a per-user basis. If you can expand the gamut of users that can use the platform with their current level of technical skills, it changes your marketing approach significantly.

For organizations that use these platforms, both the angles above are win-win. An intuitive application development platform can help organizations build more citizen developers. While this may not be good news for low-skill application development outsourcing companies, it is an excellent opportunity for organizations to leverage their existing talent for their digital transformation journey. And if the applications are being developed for external customers or consumers, the ability to embed Generative AI capabilities in those applications is also lucrative.