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Replit has transformed Zillow’s non-technical employees into software developers. The real estate giant currently routes over 100,000 home shoppers to agents and uses applications built by team members who have never written code before.
This breakthrough comes from Replit’s new partnership with Anthropic and Google Cloud, enabling over 100,000 applications with Google Cloud Run. This collaboration integrates Anthropic’s Claude AI model with Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform, allowing anyone with an idea to create custom software.
Wow – Zillow’s Powers Production Routes built by non-coders!! https://t.co/mgtdylfbg6
– Amjad Masad (@Amasad) November 22, 2024
How Zillow’s Marketing Team became an Overnight Software Developer
“We are witnessing a transformation in the way businesses create software solutions,” Replit President Michele Catasta said in an exclusive interview with VentureBeat. “Our platform is increasingly adopted by a team across marketing, sales and operations that require custom solutions that pre-built software cannot deliver.”
The initiative addresses an increasing global developer shortage, which is expected to reach 4 million by 2025. Companies can allow non-technical teams to build their own solutions rather than waiting for rare developer resources.
Claude’s sophisticated approach to code generation highlights this partnership. “Claude is excellent at producing clean, maintainable code while understanding complex systems across multiple languages and frameworks,” Anthropic’s VP product Michael Gerstenhaber told VentureBeat. . “It’s strategically tackling the issue and often comes back to analyze the larger image rather than rushing to add code.”
I built two new internal systems (left request/customer support) for my team this week using the code generated by Claude. In total, I saved USD 50,000-10,000 in consulting costs over a day. Wordcel is anything if an English/psychology graduate like me can build things using code.
– Claire Lehman (@clairlemon) February 7, 2025
How Replica, Anthropology, and Google Cloud make AI coding safe and scalable
REPLIT handles security and reliability concerns through Google Cloud’s enterprise infrastructure. “We built our security framework on the foundations of an enterprise-grade infrastructure through Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform,” says Catasta. “This allows us to provide accessible AI development tools while maintaining strict security standards.”
This partnership represents a major advancement in AI capabilities. Claude 3.5 Sonnet improved performance on the SWE bench, which was validated from 33% to 49%, surpassing many published models. These technical improvements allow users to create everything from personal productivity tools to enterprise applications.
The companies emphasized the growing AI for automation. “The greatest potential of AI is not just replacing them, but strengthening and enhancing human capabilities,” says Gerstenhaber. “For the developer team, Claude acts as a virtual assistant for experts who can dramatically accelerate the timeline of your project.
I almost paid $100 a year for the app I needed (export saved posts/bookmarks from the 1000s to a spreadsheet), and wondered, “Hmm, can Claude make this for me?” Ta.
After 10 minutes the app works and I have all the CSVs I’ve saved so far. wild!
– Kevin Roose (@kevinroose) February 7, 2025
The Future of Software Development: Replit’sAI places coding in everyone’s hands
Replit’s tools can change who will be able to build and sell software. Rural Indian teens have recently used smartphones to create apps, gained enough to buy their first laptops, and are now building software for businesses around the world. Such stories suggest a future in which anyone with an internet connection can turn their ideas into working software, regardless of their technical background or location.
The challenge continues. The platform must balance accessibility with code quality and security while ensuring that AI-generated solutions remain maintainable and scalable. Success can establish new standards for custom software development in the AI era.
According to industry analysts, the global custom software development market will reach over $700 billion by 2028. Replit’s AI-powered approach can determine who is participating in this growing market.
The initial results show promise. Companies have built their own employee time-off tracker and help desk system, with months of development within days, within days of development. Some independent developers are creating and launching new applications using only mobile phones, showing how the platform can make more people access software development.
In an industry known for its high entry barrier, replica, humanity, and Google Cloud partnerships open up software development to those with ideas. This meaning is extended beyond traditional technology companies to reshape the way companies across the industry build and deploy custom solutions.
The next billion software creators may not know how to code. That might be the point.
