At Cerulean Studio, AI is more than just a tool—it’s the driving force behind our work, shaping our development process and the products we build. In this article, I’m excited to share how our team creates AI-driven software, specifically through our work with MeetGeek, a platform transforming online meeting management with cutting-edge transcription, summaries, automation, and analytics, all AI-powered.
After years of contributing to TouchPoint News, I finally have the opportunity to dive into the work that I, along with our talented team at Cerulean Studio, do. In essence, we develop web apps, mobile apps for iOS and Android, and SaaS solutions focused on AI. And we build software using AI, embracing its potential to transform both our process and the products we create. With MeetGeek as a primary example, we can demonstrate what it means to have AI as a core element—not just an add-on.
How AI Shapes Our Development Workflow at Cerulean Studio
To bring our AI-first approach to life, I reached out to Maulana Fadilah and Mohammad Barokatu Rizky, two of our senior software engineers who have been instrumental in this journey.
MeetGeek embodies the concept of an AI-first product. It’s designed to make virtual meetings more productive by offering tools like sentiment analysis and task automation. Our team, which develops the mobile apps for iOS and Android, Chrome extension, and minor parts of the web app for MeetGeek, has built AI into each step of the process. This goes beyond automation—it requires reimagining workflows so that AI becomes a native driver of functionality rather than an afterthought.
AI-first companies like MeetGeek lead the way by structuring their processes around AI capabilities, a stark contrast to companies that only add AI to optimize existing operations. This distinction is crucial: AI-first products aren’t just incrementally better—they’re fundamentally different.
From Concept to Deployment: AI’s Role in Software Development
In software development, stages typically include product design, UX/UI design, frontend, backend, and DevOps. While DevOps hasn’t yet been heavily impacted by AI, every other phase has seen notable transformation. I often use AI to refine my concepts into clear, actionable plans for our developers. Fadilah utilizes AI for rapid research and debugging, while Rizky applies AI to generate and rewrite codebases according to project needs.
This evolution has even shifted how time is allocated: where developers previously spent more time coding, they now focus heavily on debugging AI-generated code. Ironically, debugging AI-produced code can be more challenging, requiring higher-level skills and a nuanced understanding of complex logic created by AI.
The Advantage of AI-First Companies
AI-first companies like MeetGeek have a significant edge. By building around AI from the start, they can focus all resources on a single, powerful application rather than spreading efforts thinly across generic processes. Unlike traditional companies that add AI elements to enhance existing systems, MeetGeek developed its Large Language Model (LLM) early on, creating applications—including mobile apps—to make AI capabilities more accessible and impactful. This singular focus enables even smaller companies to compete with larger enterprises, crafting highly specialized, effective solutions.
Practical Lessons in AI-Powered Development
While AI has enormous potential, we’ve learned that it’s no silver bullet. It excels at generating marketing content and copy but struggles with creating business innovations. The real key to successful AI implementation lies in thoroughly understanding the processes you want to automate. Only with deep process knowledge can AI reach its full potential.
Working with MeetGeek has shown us that AI can enhance operational efficiency, but success still relies on skilled human oversight. AI supports performance monitoring and analytics, but human intuition and strategic decision-making remain essential for defining key features and making informed decisions.
Looking Forward: A Competitive Landscape
As AI continues to become more pervasive, businesses must brace for intense competition. AI-first companies like MeetGeek prove that building solutions around AI is critical for gaining a competitive edge. However, a clear vision and a deep understanding of business processes are essential to avoid the pitfalls of unchecked automation.
AI has already reshaped how we develop software, but true success will come by embracing it wisely. By doing so, businesses can harness its transformative power to drive growth and innovation.
Gratitude for Our Team
A huge thank you to our incredible developers, Maulana Fadilah and Mohammad Barokatu Rizky, whose expertise and dedication to pushing the boundaries of AI make all of this possible. Their work doesn’t just support our goals—it defines them. Their commitment and creativity continue to inspire us and propel Cerulean Studio forward.
Source: TouchPoint News, October 2024
