How AI Website Builders Are Changing Web Design in 2025

The AI Website Revolution Is Here

If you've been following tech news lately, you've probably heard about AI website builders like Bolt.new, Lovable, and V0.dev. These tools let you describe what you want in plain English, and boom—you get a working website in minutes.

As a web developer in Christchurch, I get asked constantly: "Does this mean I can skip hiring you and just use AI?"

The short answer? Sort of, but not really.

What AI Website Builders Actually Do Well

Let's be honest—these tools are genuinely impressive. Here's what they're great at:

Speed: Generate a basic website in under 10 minutes

No Wix Fees: Unlike Wix ($27-49/month), you own the code

Modern Tech: Uses actual code (React, Tailwind) not outdated builders

Great Starting Point: Perfect for prototyping ideas quickly

So yes, AI tools are a massive improvement over Wix/Squarespace. You avoid monthly fees, platform lock-in, and slow loading times.

Where AI Still Falls Short (And Why I'm Not Worried About My Job)

Here's the reality: AI can build you a website, but it can't build you a business.

These tools handle about 70% of the process brilliantly—but that last 30% is where the value is. Here's what AI struggles with:

Business Strategy: AI doesn't understand YOUR customers or what makes them buy

Complex Integrations: Need Xero, Stripe, or a booking system? Good luck debugging that

SEO & Performance: AI sites often have bloated code and poor optimization

Maintenance: When something breaks, who fixes it? Not the AI

Brand Identity: AI makes generic sites. You need something that stands out

So, Will Website Costs Go Down in 2025?

Yes and no.

Here's what's actually changing:

The New Pricing Reality

Basic Websites (5-10 pages, simple design):

Before: $3,000-5,000
Now with AI tools: $1,500-3,000
AI speeds up layout/design, but developer still needed for polish, SEO, deployment

Professional Business Sites (10+ pages, custom features):

Before: $5,000-10,000
Now with AI tools: $4,000-8,000
AI helps with boilerplate code, but custom functionality still takes expertise

Complex Applications (e-commerce, portals, dashboards):

Price: Still $10,000+
AI barely makes a dent here—these need architecture, security, and ongoing support

Bottom line: AI makes the process faster, which means slightly cheaper for basic sites. But it doesn't eliminate the need for a developer—it just makes good developers more efficient.

How I Actually Use AI in My Work

Full transparency: I use AI tools every day. Here's my workflow:

Client Discovery: Understand their business, goals, and customers (AI can't do this)
AI Prototyping: Use Bolt.new to generate initial layouts and components fast
Refinement: Customize the design, optimize performance, add brand identity
Integration: Connect payment systems, booking tools, email services, etc.
SEO & Speed: Optimize for Google, add analytics, structured data
Deployment & Support: Launch on proper hosting, provide ongoing maintenance

AI handles step 2. I handle everything else.

Should Your Business Use AI Tools or Hire a Developer?

Here's my honest recommendation:

Use AI tools if:

You just need a simple landing page
You're comfortable troubleshooting code
You have time to learn and iterate
Budget is extremely tight (under $1,000)

Hire a developer (or developer using AI) if:

Your website is core to your business revenue
You need integrations (payments, bookings, CRM)
SEO and Google rankings matter to you
You want something unique that stands out
You don't have time to DIY and debug issues

The Verdict: AI Is a Tool, Not a Replacement

AI website builders like Bolt.new are game-changers—but they're tools for developers, not replacements for them.

Think of it like this: power tools made carpentry faster and cheaper. But you still hire a carpenter to build your house—you don't buy a nail gun and DIY it.

AI makes web development more accessible and slightly cheaper. But if you want a website that actually grows your business? You still need someone who understands marketing, SEO, user experience, and technical implementation.

Good news for Christchurch businesses: developers who use AI can now deliver better sites, faster, at lower cost than traditional agencies. You get the best of both worlds.

Want a Website That Actually Works for Your Business?

I use AI tools to speed up development—but I bring the strategy, SEO, and custom integrations that AI can't. Get the best of both worlds.

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Hugh Avery

Founder, Southern Software Solutions

Christchurch-based web developer helping local businesses grow online. Combining modern AI tools with proven development practices to build websites that actually convert.