A Systemic Understanding Becomes a Necessity

The creator of the EasyScreen Android app shares his view on AI in mobile development.

In the middle of October 2024, at the IMB TechXchange Conference in Las Vegas, IBM announced the release of several generative AI models with a focus on writing code and solving other developers’ needs. The new IBM code assistant supports over one hundred programming languages and can be integrated into the most widely used development environments. While the company emphasizes that its goal is not to replace developers but to augment their skills and performance, this is just one example of how the advancements in AI and machine learning change the landscape of IT.  

Vladislav Terekhov, currently a software developer at Mobilesource Corporation and a creator of the unique EasyScreen Android app with over 300,000 downloads, has vast experience in implementing cutting-edge solutions into the development process, including innovative AI automation. During his work at Mobilesource, as well as on independent projects, he successfully employed AI and machine learning technology to increase performance. He notes that the current AI advancements impact all levels of the development process, from junior developers to product managers. Having worked in various positions during his career, Vladislav now explains the potential impact of AI technology along with the new challenges and opportunities that developers are already facing in their current practice.

 “To stay up to date with the current technology, one needs to understand that the impact of AI is not limited to a particular aspect or domain of software development. Often companies need to reimagine the whole process to incorporate AI into it in the most efficient way”, explains Vladislav Terekhov. 

Due to this fact, several directions need to be considered regarding the growing role of AI and related technology. They can be incorporated into the app itself and used to analyze users’ behavior; in the form of LLMs, they bring user interactions to a new level, but it is of no less importance that they become incorporated into the development process itself. Vladislav Terekhov agrees that AI proliferation will change the development process, for instance, by relieving software developers from routine work and automating certain testing or analytics procedures. However, it absolutely does not mean that AI will “replace” human developers in some way. While less creative and more predictable components of the process can be delegated to the AI tools, humans still remain in control, which creates a growing demand for developers who combine deep technical knowledge with creativity, as well as good management and teamwork capacities. 

Vladislav Terekhov possesses vast practical experience in integrating AI tools into existing processes. In 2022, he started working at Mobilesource Corp, a mobile software development company, and a creator of several successful utility apps currently presented in the App Store with thousands of downloads across them. He developed several internal business solutions and mobile apps, helping the company to create better optimized, reliable, and efficient apps. Looking at the development process more closely, one may notice that the AI and LLM tools become incorporated into it in various stages. For example, in its early phase, they can be applied for market analysis, brainstorming, idea generation, quick prototyping, and exploring various user stories. Further into the development process, they become essential for code optimization and debugging, testing and quality assurance, as well as code documentation. 

“For the AI tools to become not just a buzzword but a valuable tool which is beneficial for the company, a systemic understanding of the development process and its specifics becomes a necessity, so the most efficient points for the AI application can be found,” explains Vladislav Terekhov. 

The systemic view of mobile development allowed him to create a screen-sharing app that later inspired many attempts to copy its model. The app called Easy Screen allows users to share the contents of their Android phone screen to a Smart TV without wires or any complicated setup process. Thanks to its convenient interface and compatibility with a wide array of phone and TV models, the app continues to be downloaded regularly, with over 300,000 total downloads today. This is a vivid example of the success that can be achieved by establishing an efficient development process, and AI tools help with it as well. 

It is important to note, though, that the developer should not only explore the newest technological advancements but apply continuous and conscious effort to turn them into an integral part of their career. As manuals and guidebooks for mobile development often do not manage to keep up with the technology, exchanging ideas with other community members becomes even more critical. In 2024, Vladislav Terekhov became a Senior Member of IEEE, one of the world’s leading organizations uniting electronic, technology, and engineering professionals. He perceives the membership not only as recognizing his achievements and contributions to the industry but also as an opportunity to learn from others and expand his skill set. 

Moreover, as AI technologies continue to develop rapidly with no notion of slowing down, developers need to work proactively on extending their knowledge and testing out new approaches that become part of their skill set. A good way to do so is by participating in hackathons at similar events, which demand the participants apply their skills in challenging and high-pressure environments, which incentivizes out-of-the-box thinking and creative solutions.

“Whether the hackathon participants come up with a practical result or not, they acquire a unique experience of experimenting and searching for creative solutions,” comments Vladislav Terekhov. 

He adds that the hackathons played a significant role in his career as well. He won at several events, including the national stage of Angel Hack in 2017, an international stage at Accor Hotel in 2018, and the nationwide hackathon Hack Race, which strengthened his reputation as a talented developer and allowed him to explore new technologies and acquire expertise that he then puts into practice. His reputation was further solidified in 2023 when he won the prize as the Innovator of the Year in Mobile Development at the National Business Awards which celebrates the most prominent business and innovation achievements in Russia. This achievement illustrates his ability to keep up with innovations and use technology advancements such as AI tools in the most efficient way, getting the edge over competitors. 

In the future, Vladislav Terekhov plans to continue developing innovative mobile apps, finding creative ways to apply emerging AI technologies but not limiting himself to them. He wants to explore IoT and other cutting-edge solutions, and the approaches he described above provide an example of how to keep up with rapid technological developments, overcome challenges, and become an efficient developer.