A prompt, a few minutes, and a web page appears on the screen. Artificial intelligence tools have radically transformed website design. For an entrepreneur, the temptation is understandable: why hire an agency if AI can already produce a mock-up, write copy and generate code?
The answer is neither ‘AI is useless’ nor ‘an agency is always essential’. AI has become a remarkable production tool. But a professional website is more than just a page that loads. It must be reliable, secure, visible, compliant with applicable regulations and capable of supporting a business over the long term. This is precisely where the difference lies between a quickly generated prototype and a genuine working tool.
AI can speed up the design, content creation and certain development tasks. It does not automatically handle hosting, security, testing, SEO, compliance, updates and support. For a website that represents your business, the right approach is often to combine AI tools with human expertise that takes responsibility for the end result.
The rise of AI: what has really changed in web design
Just a few years ago, building a website involved selecting a theme, organising the pages, writing each piece of text, preparing the visuals and putting the various elements together. Today, an AI assistant can propose a site structure, produce initial content, suggest a visual identity and generate code components based on instructions given in natural language.
This development is significant, particularly for the self-employed and small businesses with limited resources. It enables them to explore an idea, bring a concept to life quickly or create an initial version before committing to a larger budget. It also makes certain repetitive tasks less costly.
However, production speed should not be confused with the quality of the finished project. A page may look convincing on screen whilst being based on fragile code, a structure ill-suited to search engines, or forms that do not work properly. A website designed to receive enquiries, process orders or collect information must be tested under real-world conditions.
What artificial intelligence does very well
It would be absurd for a web agency to deny the advances in AI. Used effectively, it boosts productivity and allows staff to devote more time to decisions that require experience and sound judgement.
Propose a site map, an initial site structure and suggested visitor pathways.
Prepare drafts, titles, descriptions, FAQs and alternative wording.
Speed up certain components, scripts and repetitive development tasks.
Explore possible corrections, rephrase content and compare different versions.
At Elvis Web, we regard AI as a working tool. It can help us speed up certain stages, but every result must be reviewed, tested and adapted to the client’s context. Generated text must reflect the actual business activity. A piece of code must be checked. A graphic design proposal must be consistent with the brand’s identity and the habits of its visitors.
What a prompt doesn’t reveal: everything that happens after it goes live
Creating the first version is one step. The day-to-day running of the website is another. These are the aspects that a generation tool does not automatically handle.
1. Security and updates
A WordPress site is made up of several components: the core CMS, the theme, plugins, and sometimes external libraries and services. These elements evolve and are regularly updated. Some of these updates fix vulnerabilities. If they are ignored, the site may become more vulnerable to attacks or experience compatibility issues.
Code generated by AI is not automatically secure just because it works the first time it is run. It needs to be reviewed, tested and maintained. You also need to set up backups and know how to restore the website in the event of an incident. Our guide on WordPress maintenance, including the price and what’s included in a package sets out the points to be considered.
2. Web hosting, domain names and email
A website must be hosted on a service suited to its intended use. The choice depends, in particular, on the expected traffic, the resources required, backups, the quality of support and the scope for future expansion. You also need to manage the domain name, the HTTPS certificate, business email addresses and the DNS configuration.
These factors are not merely administrative details: they affect the company’s availability, performance and ability to communicate with its customers. To understand the selection criteria, see our guide Which hosting service should you choose for a WordPress website?
3. Search engine optimisation and measuring results
A website can look great without attracting visitors from Google. SEO begins long before the site goes live: you need to understand what customers are searching for, choose priority topics and keywords, organise the pages and produce genuinely useful content. Titles, descriptions, internal links, images, page speed and the mobile experience must all be optimised in tandem.
When carrying out a site redesign, it is also important to review the old URLs, set up appropriate redirects and ensure that key pages remain accessible to search engines. Once the site goes live, Google Search Console and analytics tools can be used to monitor indexing and performance. Our 25-point WordPress SEO checklist provides a method of verification.
4. Compliance and data protection
Legal notices, privacy policy, cookie management, forms, data retention periods and users’ rights: obligations vary depending on the country, the business activity and the data collected. An automatically generated generic text does not guarantee that your website complies with the rules that apply to your specific situation.
It is necessary to identify the data actually collected, the third-party tools used and the processing operations carried out. For legal or regulatory matters, validation by a competent professional may be required. AI can help to draw up a checklist of points to be examined; it does not replace this validation.
5. Accountability and continuity
What happens if the website goes down, if a form stops submitting requests, or if an update causes a conflict? A support agent may suggest possible solutions, but they do not automatically become your operational point of contact. They do not necessarily document access, do not keep track of your technical history and do not enter into any contractual commitments on your behalf.
A team supporting the project can organise access, maintain documentation, explain technical decisions and plan the logistics of the work. This continuity is particularly important when the site is directly linked to turnover or customer relations.
The ‘zero-euro’ website trap
Just because a tool is free doesn’t mean the project costs nothing. You have to factor in the time spent writing instructions, correcting inconsistencies, revising layouts, linking forms, choosing a hosting provider and troubleshooting. For a business leader, this time has a value: it is time not spent on clients, sales or their core business.
You also need to factor in the cost of any errors. A faulty contact page can result in lost enquiries. A poorly configured online shop can disrupt orders. A slow website can put visitors off. A security incident may require diagnosis, clean-up and restoration. The actual budget must therefore take into account not only the creation but also the ongoing running of the website.
This comparison outlines typical scenarios: AI tools and agencies offer very different levels of service. An agency must also specify what is included in its offer.
Mobile apps: where the gap is widening
When it comes to mobile apps, creating a screen or an initial prototype has become much more accessible. However, a product available on iOS and Android requires much more than just an interface: a server, a database, account management, backups, notifications, potential payment processing, testing on devices and version tracking.
- Infrastructure: user accounts, APIs, databases, storage and the ability to handle increased demand.
- Publication: developer accounts, presentation sheets, screenshots, privacy information and the app store approval process.
- Compatibility: necessary adjustments when iOS or Android versions or devices change.
- Third-party services: payments, authentication, cards, notifications and emails, each with its own set of rules.
- Data: data protection, rights management and the ability to process requests to delete accounts.
- Quality: testing on real devices, fixing bugs and releasing new versions.
AI can help write some of the code, but it cannot, on its own, manage developer accounts, platform requirements, validation processes, user feedback and product liability.
A practical example: the La Quille project
La Quille is a mobile app for discovering rums, available on app stores. Elvis Web worked on the app and its showcase website. The project illustrates an important distinction: a request that appears to be for a simple page can, in reality, affect the overall architecture of a product.
The client wanted Premium subscribers to be able to access certain personal data on the website using the same login details as in the app. The quickest solution, on the face of it, would have been to add a page to WordPress. However, this approach would have overlooked the issues surrounding accounts, security and synchronisation.
Our recommendation was therefore to implement this feature in a dedicated web application, linked to the same server environment as the mobile application. This approach is more in line with the product’s logic. This is also the role of a technical team: not simply to carry out every request mechanically, but to understand the requirement and propose a coherent architecture.
You can also find our our guide to the cost of a mobile app in 2026 to find out more about the project’s design choices.
The role of a web agency in 2026: AI as a tool, not a replacement
The role of an agency is evolving. Value no longer rests solely on the ability to put pages together or write code. It also rests on scoping, understanding requirements, making technical decisions, quality control and ongoing support after delivery.
Understand the business, the customers, the objectives and the constraints before starting production.
Proofread the content, test the user flows and check the deliverables produced with or without AI.
Organise access, technical options and instructions for getting started.
Plan for maintenance, upgrades and support after the system goes live.
At Elvis Web, we use AI tools to speed up certain stages, whilst retaining control over and responsibility for the work delivered. Based in Antananarivo, we support clients in Madagascar and France, in French, with a designated point of contact. Our website design service and our packages, including the Vitrine Pro Package at €450 depending on the scope defined, enable us to structure a project within a set budget.
When is AI alone sufficient, and when should you seek support?
An AI tool may be sufficient for a placeholder page, a prototype, an internal demonstration or a small, temporary project that does not collect sensitive data and does not play a critical business role. It is a good way to test an idea before investing further.
Support becomes much more important when the website needs to generate enquiries or sales, collect data, process payments, appear in Google search results or integrate with business tools. It is also essential when the project needs to evolve, be maintained and remain operational over several years.
Five questions to ask before choosing your solution
- Who will update the website and its extensions after it has been delivered?
- Who takes action if the website is hacked, unavailable or if a form stops working?
- Who owns the domain name, the web hosting, the accounts and the administrator access details?
- Who is responsible for preparing the data protection declaration and checking compliance with personal data obligations?
- How might the website evolve in a year’s time, when your needs or the technology have changed?
If these questions remain unanswered, the project may not yet be ready for deployment. To find out more, please see our guide on Choosing between WordPress and Wix for a business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace web agencies?
It automates some production tasks and transforms working methods. It does not eliminate the need for supervision, monitoring, safety, accountability and follow-up. Agencies that adapt can use it to work more efficiently.
Can you create a website using ChatGPT or another AI?
Yes. It is possible to create a mock-up, write the text, define the structure and, in some cases, generate part of the code. The next steps are to host the website, check that it works properly, secure it, organise its search engine optimisation and plan for its maintenance.
Can a mobile app be developed using AI alone?
AI can support development, but deployment and operation require, amongst other things, infrastructure, developer accounts, testing, data management and regular updates.
What is the true cost of a website once it is live?
In addition to the initial set-up cost, there are usually costs for the domain name, web hosting, any third-party services, maintenance and search engine optimisation. The total cost depends on the type of website and its requirements. A tailored quote enables you to define the scope and associated costs.
Conclusion: choose an agency that also has expertise in AI
Artificial intelligence has made web development more accessible and speeded up many stages of the process. This is a positive development. However, it has not eliminated the requirements that make a website useful to a business: reliability, security, visibility, compliance, user experience and scalability.
So the right question isn’t simply ‘AI or an agency?’. For a project that matters to your business, look instead for a partner who knows how to use modern tools, check the results they produce and remain involved after the site goes live.
Do you have a website or app project?
Let’s discuss your objectives, your constraints and the most suitable solution. Elvis Web supports you every step of the way, from the initial planning stage right through to going live.
