Programming Language Battle: Kotlin vs. Java in the AI Era
Have you ever wondered which language is the best choice for developing artificial intelligence systems?
Artificial Intelligence Revolutionizes the World of Programming Languages
The tech landscape is constantly evolving under the influence of artificial intelligence (AI). These shifts are reshaping developers’ priorities, particularly in choosing the most suitable programming language for AI development.
Java and Kotlin: Two Significant Choices
Java’s influence has been undeniable since 1995. However, Kotlin, a newer contender, is beginning to cast a significant shadow. While Python leads in research and prototyping, Java and Kotlin hold a significant advantage for AI systems in production, especially at scale. This advantage has been reinforced by a recent Kotlin update that improved usability and reduced its error rate by nearly 30%.
Kotlin: A Rising Protagonist
Developed by JetBrains in 2010, Kotlin has won over Google, which declared it the preferred language for Android in 2019 and the favored technology for business apps sharing logic across platforms this year. Thanks to its concise syntax and expressive features, Kotlin is also acclaimed for its high compatibility with Java.
As a cross-platform language, it reduces disparities between systems and development efforts. Its ease of use across various sectors like e-commerce, fintech, and enterprise software makes it a top choice.
A Future Without Java?
According to Egor Tolstoy, head of the Kotlin project at JetBrains, “Kotlin is an ideal choice for several scenarios: Android development, server-side development, cross-platform programming, and as a first language for coding”. He notes that since Google endorsed Kotlin for Android development, “over 50% of Android developers have switched from Java to Kotlin”.
However, many Kotlin developers for AI still heavily rely on Java libraries. Indeed, Java remains a robust choice due to its mature ecosystem, solid toolkit, and extensive collection of libraries and frameworks.
Ultimately, if you are starting in AI and looking for a modern, concise syntax, Kotlin is undoubtedly worth considering. Yet, Java, with its well-established ecosystem and the efficiency of its tools for machine learning and data analysis, continues to be relevant in many scenarios.