AI Workflows, from a webscraper in 2015 to another in 2024

Back in 2015, I built a web scraper for an organization associated with UNICEF. It took two weeks of full-time work to develop, but I wasn’t particularly proud of the result. The code wasn’t readable or maintainable — it was a temporary solution designed to “just work” until we transitioned to a paid service as the project scaled.

Fast forward to today: I recently developed another scraper, but this time leveraging AI workflow automations. The difference? It only took about 4 hours to build, despite working with some tools for the first time. The result is not just more powerful but also maintainable, production-ready, and easily integrable with any backend through a simple webhook.

Having worked with tools like Azure Pipelines and Apache Airflow, I’ve always appreciated the value of automation in streamlining workflows. However, AI adds an entirely new dimension. It enables faster development, smarter decision-making, and unprecedented adaptability in applications like these.

If your company hasn’t started incorporating AI workflows yet, now is the perfect time to invest in your team’s knowledge — or even expand your team with AI expertise. The benefits in efficiency, scalability, and innovation are well worth the effort.

It’s incredible to see how combining experience with the power of AI transforms how we approach challenges. What recent breakthroughs or tools have elevated your workflows?