Everyone wants AI in their app right now. But most people don't know what AI can actually do, what it costs, or when it's not worth adding. Let's clear that up.
What AI Can Actually Do in a Mobile App
Here are real things AI can do in your app today. These are not science fiction. These are features we've built for clients:
- Chatbots. Your app can answer customer questions 24/7 using AI. It can understand natural language and give helpful responses based on your business info.
- Personalized recommendations. "You might also like..." Based on what a user has done before, AI can suggest products, content, or actions.
- Image recognition. Point your camera at something and the app identifies it. Works for products, plants, food, documents, and more.
- Text generation. AI can write product descriptions, summarize long text, or generate personalized messages.
- Voice commands. Users talk to your app and it understands what they want.
What's Simple to Add vs. What's Complex
- Simple (1 to 2 weeks): A chatbot that answers questions about your business. Text summarization. Basic recommendations.
- Medium (2 to 4 weeks): Image recognition for specific objects. Personalized content feeds. Voice interaction.
- Complex (1 to 3 months): Custom AI models trained on your data. Real-time video analysis. Predictive systems that learn over time.
The Cost Question
Most AI features use services like OpenAI or Google AI behind the scenes. Adding a chatbot might cost $2,000 to $5,000 to build. But there's also a running cost. Every time a user talks to the AI, it costs a fraction of a cent. For most apps, this is pennies per month. For very popular apps, it can add up. Plan for it.
When AI Is Not Worth It
AI is not the answer to everything. Skip it if:
- Simple rules work fine. If you can write "if this, then that" logic, you don't need AI.
- You're adding it just to say "AI-powered." Users don't care about the label. They care if the feature is useful.
- Your core product isn't built yet. Get the basics working first. Add AI later as an upgrade.