Exploring the Reality of AI-Powered Development Tools

AI-based software development tools have been emerging rapidly this year. But what is the real truth about some of these tools? We had the chance to speak with front-end development manager and full-stack engineer Kenas at 4i Tech. Together, we explored many of the foundational models and AI-powered tools that have been making waves recently.

4i Tech is at the forefront of AI-driven development, leveraging cutting-edge tools to build high-quality software solutions efficiently. As a company fully integrated with AI-powered development, we utilize top-tier AI models and IDEs to accelerate project timelines while maintaining robust, scalable code. By combining AI automation with expert human oversight, we ensure that our software solutions are both innovative and reliable, helping clients turn their ideas into reality with unprecedented speed and precision.

Foundational Models:

We examined some of the large language models (LLMs) that power today’s AI tools and assessed their effectiveness in software development.
OpenAI models are currently the best for writing code. The code produced by these models is the clearest, most concise, and most usable, with fast and easy implementation. Kenas was particularly fond of GPT-4o and GPT-3.5.

Claude models also perform well in code generation, but OpenAI models seem to have a slight edge in this area. That said, for general inquiries and planning projects, the Claude models—especially 3.7 and 3.5—excel at answering general questions and structuring tasks effectively.

Llama and Mistral models were also relatively strong in code generation and general question-answering but did not quite match the quality of OpenAI or Claude models. However, they still provided high-level code and are excellent alternatives for those prioritizing privacy or on-device model deployment.

IDEs

Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) are the platforms where developers write code to build the world's online tools. Three frontrunners currently dominate the AI-powered IDE space.

Cursor is currently the leader among AI-integrated IDEs. As one of the first to market, it introduced auto-complete features (Cursor Tab) and AI-powered chat updates for code. At 4i Tech, we operate as a full Cursor house, with all of our developers using AI to build products for clients. Kenas is also a major fan, noting that Cursor offers a seamless way to integrate AI into the codebase. Cursor is a fork of VS Code, so the interface is already familiar to most developers. Additionally, users can select their preferred AI model if the default option isn’t ideal, choosing between OpenAI and Claude models.

GitHub Copilot is a VS Code extension that integrates AI into the development workflow. While it is not as well integrated as Cursor, it is still a strong option. Since Copilot works directly within VS Code, existing users don’t need to switch IDEs.

Windsurf from Codeium is another AI-powered IDE that has been gaining traction. Though slightly less popular than Cursor, it has been making waves recently. The Windsurf Tab feature from the Wave 5 update is self-described as the best auto-complete and code update option. Many developers have been trying it out, with some even switching entirely from Cursor to Windsurf. However, we did not discuss Windsurf in depth.

Platform Tools

Using these models, many companies now provide code-generation tools that automatically build projects from start to finish. We explored some of the most cutting-edge tools in this space.

One of the hottest platform-building tools is Lovable.dev, an "AI full-stack engineer." Lovable enables non-technical "vibe coders" to build full websites and applications simply by describing their requirements in plain English. The platform constructs entire websites in Next.js, allows backend integration with Supabase, uploads projects to GitHub, and even facilitates custom domain publishing. When we introduced Kenas to Lovable.dev, he was astounded by the quality of the generated code and the speed at which complete web apps could be assembled.

Same.new received a similarly enthusiastic response from Kenas, who is now considering using it to refactor our own website. Same.new is a website replication tool that can clone websites almost pixel-for-pixel. Like Lovable, it builds using Next.js, but it focuses more on recreating existing sites rather than creating new ones from scratch. This tool is particularly valuable for businesses wanting to modernize their websites with a contemporary framework. Kenas recently refactored our website manually and then used Same.new—what took seven days manually was reduced to mere hours for over half of the pages.
V0, Vercel’s AI-powered website builder, is another staple in our toolkit. V0 is mainly used to create simple websites and deploy them directly via Vercel, a web deployment and hosting platform. While V0 is highly integrated with Vercel and requires minimal effort to move code, it is somewhat limited in functionality.

Another AI-focused tool we examined was Groq, a high-speed AI inference platform. Groq delivers AI-generated responses at incredibly fast speeds, outperforming many OpenAI models. Although it primarily utilizes Llama and Mistral models, Groq is able to provide accurate results for 85% of tasks at speeds that OpenAI and Claude models cannot match. This makes it particularly valuable for handling repetitive yet complex queries.

Other emerging tools include Bolt.new and Claude Code, though we didn’t discuss them in detail. Bolt.new is similar to Lovable.dev and is currently hosting the largest hackathon ever. Claude Code, created by Anthropic, is a full-stack development tool capable of handling more complex backend coding than Bolt.new or Lovable.dev.

What AI is Good At—and What It’s Not

We came to the same conclusion: the latest AI-powered tools are absolutely revolutionary. They enable even the least technical users to create complex full-stack applications at speeds that would have been unimaginable five years ago. However, human expertise remains essential for guiding development and ensuring quality.

Without experienced project managers and skilled prompt engineers directing AI, these tools can easily go off track. Additionally, AI-generated code is often buggy, requiring human developers to review and refine it. This is where a team like 4i Tech becomes invaluable—our experienced developers, visionary project managers, and capable prompt engineers have successfully built and maintained extensive projects using these AI tools. If you're looking to turn your next idea into an AI-powered reality, our team is here to help.