Build 2022, the Microsoft event for developers, has started with a multitude of news related to Windows 11, but also with important advances in the area of artificial intelligence. The company run by Satya Nadella has presented ‘Power Apps Express Design’, a new tool powered by AI that adds to those already available in Power Apps, its development service without code, and that allows you to create functional applications based on a simple drawingsketch, image or even PDF.
‘Power Apps Express Design’ is intended to be a solution for non-developer users. Also those who are not familiar with programming, because it is not even necessary to write a single line of code to make the app work. The company uses “advanced cognitive AI models” capable of recognize images, the structure of a form, figures, or any other element previously recorded in a sketch, drawing, document or in Figma (online graphic editing platform). Then, based on the information captured, create an app and data schema in Dataverse, Microsoft’s low-code data platform.
Microsoft AI for creating applications based on drawings or sketches, in addition, allows the user modify some elements of the app manually. For example, it is possible to change a figure, resize a button, add new controls, text, images, etc.
‘Power Apps Express Design’, yes, it only creates a preliminary app. The user you will need to tag the interface components manually and select, for example, whether a checkbox is a datepicker, a textbox, etc. Additionally, it is also possible to add new screens by scanning other sketches.
Microsoft also allows you to create apps with natural language thanks to AI
‘Power Apps Express Design’ is not the only AI-based tool the company has available on its no-code development platform. In 2021, Microsoft presented ‘Power Apps Ideas’, an AI-powered service that allows you to create applications using a natural language, which is subsequently translated by lines of code. In this case, the user only has to write what information he wants to appear on the screen. Afterwards, ‘Power Apps Ideas’ will display different options with a brief description of how they work.
You’ll be able to simply tell Power Apps what you’d like to see, for example, “show me US customers whose subscription has expired,” and a set of formulas will be presented along with an explanation of how they work.
Both Express Design and Apps Ideas can already be used through Power Apps. The Microsoft service, yes, works under subscription, and has a price of 4.20 euros per user and application per month. Or, 16.90 euros per user per month and with the possibility of creating an unlimited number of applications.