As AI capabilities grow at a rapid pace, many IT leaders are asking: Will AI ultimately replace low-code? At the OutSystems ONE Conference in Amsterdam, Oleksandr Matvitskyy, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner, shared valuable insights on this very question.
AI’s Role in Low-Code’s Future
According to Matvitskyy, Generative AI (GenAI) is not replacing low-code, but rather, AI and low-code platforms are converging to transform software development in revolutionary ways. AI amplifies low-code’s potential by empowering teams to innovate at speed while ensuring that AI initiatives align with both technical requirements and broader business objectives. Low-code platforms allow organisations to manage, run and integrate AI in a coordinated, strategic and cost-effective way. Matvitskyy noted that AI and low-code share a natural synergy, with AI’s automation and predictive capabilities fitting seamlessly into low-code’s model-driven, visual development approach. With AI embedded throughout the entire software development lifecycle, not just coding, low-code developers can focus on building more sophisticated and valuable applications that more precisely meet an organisation’s needs.
Low-Code Remains a CIO Priority
Low-code is more relevant than ever. As CIOs face increasing demands for faster application development and greater agility, low-code is quickly becoming a central element of their strategies. Gartner research shows that low-code is a top priority for US CIOs looking ahead to 2025. Forrester also reports that 88% of developers are already using low-code platforms, and Gartner predicts that by 2029, enterprise low-code application platforms (LCAPs) will be used in 80% of mission-critical applications globally, up from just 15% in 2024. These figures underscore the growing reliance on low-code as a core software development approach.
GenAI and Low-Code: A Productive Partnership
One of the most significant points Matvitskyy made was that GenAI will enhance the productivity and user experience on low-code platforms. With AI code assistants, low-code developers and business users alike can streamline tasks, reduce human error, and accelerate the entire software development process. As users from diverse industries adopt low-code, they aren’t just hoping for AI enhancements—they are expecting them. Platform providers, including OutSystems, are responding by integrating GenAI tools to deliver immersive, AI-driven capabilities that increase productivity and enhance user experiences.
The Human Element: Why Low-Code Matters
Low-code platforms empower business users and developers alike to apply AI strategically and with purpose. Unlike traditional coding, low-code enables a collaborative approach where non-technical staff can leverage AI to drive impactful outcomes. This “human-in-the-loop” approach is vital for CIOs as they work to create AI solutions that meet both technical and business objectives.
AI and Low-Code, Stronger Together
Rather than making low-code obsolete, AI is driving low-code’s evolution and solidifying its place in the future of software development. As Matvitskyy explained, AI and low-code are complementary technologies. With low-code as a tool to orchestrate and manage AI capabilities, IT leaders can harness the best of both worlds to meet growing business demands.
For CIOs and IT leaders, the takeaway is clear: the future of software development lies in integrating AI within low-code platforms, empowering organisations to build smarter, faster, and more adaptable solutions that keep pace with an ever-evolving digital landscape.
OutSystems, the AI-powered low-code platform
OutSystems is a leading low-code platform that integrates AI capabilities to streamline and accelerate application development. It enhances developers’ productivity and reduces development time by up to 70%.
OutSystems empowers users without AI expertise to automate complex coding tasks, optimise workflows, and improve the overall application lifecycle—from design and development to deployment and maintenance. Embedded AI mentors provide real-time code suggestions, error detection, and performance optimisation, allowing users to create scalable, high-performance applications faster than ever. Further, with OutSystems, you can harness the power of GenAI Agents in minutes to transform your call centre operations, virtual assistants, employee experiences, e-commerce, end-to-end process automation and much more.
OutSystems is a robust platform that combines low-code and AI to support seamless innovation. It enables businesses to build adaptable solutions while maintaining control over security, compliance, and integration with existing systems.
