AI Generated Website, Good, Bad and Ugly

One of the first things I needed to do in order to make myself and my work more visible was to improve my company website. I have had a single page placeholder website set up for cortexit.co.uk for a very long time, it might have reflected me in the early 2010s but it was definitely long in the tooth and did nothing for my overall profile.

Take me back in time to the early 2010s

As a 'tech guy' I thought 'I can do that' and it was tempting to build it myself. However, I realised that I need to hold back on that kind of thinking and really consider about value for money, speed of delivery and effort required. Whilst it's certainly possible for me to do it I would deliberate for hours over the design, spend excess time on making tech stack decisions etc etc. I need to treat this like any other project and balance the cost and effort with the value returned.

I decided to go for something off the shelf that would get me up and running as quickly as possible for a keen budget. At the core of my requirements I identified that I needed a simple site with a blog. With that I can have an online presence and publish my thoughts and ideas. Google quickly led me to Wix. It looked like it could do all I needed at a £8/month so not an excessively large outlay given the need to move quickly. I figured I can start with that and then consider the value it has given at the end of the years contract, then decide if I need to change it up at that point.

I am glad I did. Wix had an AI agent that helped me through the process. It asked me a bunch of simple questions and out popped a fully formed website with all the functionality I needed in about 20 mins.

I never thought 'I will write a review on this'. That was never the plan, but there was an unexpected amount of AI help working through this so it fits in with my intent of exploring that theme. So here is my quickfire review.

The Good

The Ai helper got me through the design side nice and quickly. It was particularly useful in guiding me through each step, ensuring that my website not only looked appealing but also functioned well.

Efficient Design Assistance

One of the features I appreciated most was the intuitive design assistance provided by the Wix AI helper. Here’s how it made a difference for me:

• Intuitive Design Suggestions: The AI analyzed my inputs and preferences, suggesting design elements that matched my vision.

• Rapid Prototyping: With the AI’s help, I could quickly generate design prototypes. This immediate visual feedback allowed me to make adjustments until I was satisfied.

  
  

Identifying Functional Needs

The AI helper was also adept at identifying the functional components necessary for my website. It considered various aspects such as:

• Business Objectives: The AI recognized the features I needed for my website, The blog components are nicely considered. There are further AI helpers embedded within that component to aid me when creating content and even more that help me consider the SEO aspects before I publish. Nice work.

  
  

Color, Feel, and Tone

Establishing the right aesthetic was crucial for my website, and the Wix AI helper played a significant role in this area:

• Color Palettes

• Typography Choices

• Image and Icon Recommendations

Transforming Ideas into Results

One of the most rewarding aspects of using the Wix AI helper was its ability to turn my abstract ideas into tangible, deployed results. This process involved:

• Brainstorming Support: The AI prompted me with questions and suggestions that clarified my vision, making it easier to articulate what I wanted.

• Direct Implementation: Once I had a clear vision, the AI translated my thoughts into actionable design elements, effectively bridging the gap between my concepts and their execution.

• Iterative Feedback: I could refine my designs based on the AI's feedback, allowing for continuous adjustments until I achieved the desired outcome.

The Bad

What do I want my company to be?

This one is on me. I clearly don't have a strong enough message about 'what is Cortex It Ltd'. I am mostly (but not exclusively) using the company as a vehicle through which I can contract my skills. I need to spend more time on refining the message here. So in a way that's bad, as I don't have an of the cuff tagline or sales pitch, but creating the website has made me realise that, so maybe also good?

No cookie or privacy policy

One significant drawback was the lack of guidance regarding compliance with legal requirements, such as data protection regulations, privacy and cookie policies. When clicking through the published website I discovered a bunch of placeholder text on the stub privacy page to tell me about this, but at that point it was already published. If I had not clicked around I would not have discovered this. My users need to be informed about how cookies are used on the site, including what data is collected and how it is utilized. The absence of a Privacy Policy, compliance guidance, and a Cookie Policy could potentially expose me to legal risks, including fines and penalties. I admit - the risk is quite low for me, but for others it might be much higher.

Luckily there is a simple way to enable a cookie preferences popup in Wix, but to get it exactly how I would like it will cost me cash. I will accept the limitations for now though and move on.

To create the core of the privacy notice I used the tool available at ICO . That combined with a little ChatGpt pixie dust to add a cookie policy section has got me something workable. I am pretty sure that I am now compliant, at least significantly de risked.

The Ugly

Hmm, who is this guy? Why is his montor so large, why is it not in front of him?

The images produced by the AI helper were visually appealing and had a certain aesthetic quality that made them 'nice' to look at. However, it is clear (to me at least) that these images were generated by artificial intelligence, as they lack the authenticity and personal touch that comes with human-created art and photography. Also, I am not the person depicted in the image. This disconnect raises interesting questions about identity and representation in the realm of AI-generated content. While the technology can create impressive visuals, it often fails to capture the essence of individuality and personal experience that defines who we are.

I think that there is a place for AI generated images. They will be very useful when I need to supplement a blog post with an eye catching visual (there is a built in tool for this btw). For the main page I would like something more personal. For an MVP version of the website though, I was happy enough and prepared to accept the compromise and move on.

Conclusion

Overall, my experience with Wix's AI website creation tools has been incredibly positive. The AI helper guided me through design choices, identified functional needs, and helped establish the right aesthetic tone. It transformed what could have been a long winded task into an simple and productive journey. If you have a very specific idea for your site then maybe this is not for you, but if you want to avoid the design headache then this gets you where you want very quickly.

But.. do check that its all working as expected, run through a testing phase after it has created your site. Make sure it hits the compliance requirements and all the links show pages with actual content, not placeholder content. Also, really have a good think about the images. Are they good, really?

Addendum

I am lucky enough to be friends with Gordon Laing at CameraLabs (also a Brighton local). He has kindly allowed me to use his excellent photos from around Brighton. So I can now swap out the odd AI image on the front page with something much more appealing and local. Thank you Gordon.

Thank you Gordon @cameralabs