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Low-code development tools continue to simplify the creation of mobile and IoT applications, particularly for projects involving embedded hardware and AI-assisted functions. The new Elektor book MIT App Inventor for AI and IoT explores how MIT App Inventor’s visual programming environment can be used to build Android applications while interfacing with platforms such as Raspberry Pi Pico W, Raspberry Pi 5, Arduino UNO R4 WiFi and ESP32.

Written by Dr Dogan Ibrahim, the 389-page full-colour book combines mobile app development, artificial intelligence and IoT through a practical, hands-on approach. Readers learn how to create interactive mobile applications, connect them to hardware and explore AI-powered features without requiring prior programming experience.

Instead of relying on syntax-heavy coding, the projects use MIT App Inventor’s visual block-based programming system, making the material accessible to beginners, students, makers and educators.

MIT App Inventor’s drag-and-drop Designer interface simplifies mobile app development for beginners.

AI-powered mobile applications

Early chapters introduce the basics of app development including user interfaces, multimedia functions, speech recognition, GPS, camera integration and smartphone sensors. Readers then move on to more advanced projects involving wireless communication, embedded hardware and artificial intelligence.

One of the book’s AI-focused chapters demonstrates voice-controlled assistants, AI chatbots and image-recognition applications built with MIT App Inventor.

The projects also show how AI services can be integrated into practical mobile applications in an accessible way.

AI chatbot and image-analysis app created with MIT App Inventor.

Connecting smartphones to hardware

The hardware-oriented chapters demonstrate communication between smartphone apps and Raspberry Pi Pico W, Raspberry Pi 5, Arduino UNO R4 WiFi and ESP32 systems using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Classic and Bluetooth BLE.

Projects include smartphone-controlled relays, environmental monitoring systems, voice-controlled LEDs, wireless sensor applications, barcode-controlled systems and IoT dashboards.

Throughout the book, screenshots, App Inventor block diagrams and hardware examples help simplify project replication. The combination of mobile development, AI and IoT gives the projects a strong focus on connected electronics and rapid prototyping.

Smartphone control of Raspberry Pi Pico W and relay hardware over Wi Fi.

Practical learning approach

As smartphone interfaces become increasingly common in embedded and IoT projects, platforms such as MIT App Inventor offer a more accessible route into application development and hardware connectivity.

Designed around learning by doing, MIT App Inventor for AI and IoT combines mobile app creation, AI functions and embedded hardware projects through a series of practical examples aimed at rapid experimentation and prototyping.

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