OutSystems launches AI Mentor to revolutionise app development

OutSystems has announced the general availability of Mentor on the OutSystems Developer Cloud (ODC), introducing an AI digital worker designed to generate applications from simple prompts and automate the software development lifecycle (SDLC).

The Mentor technology was first introduced publicly in October 2024, where select customers and partners took part in an Early Access Program. These participants reported notable time savings and a reduction in the time needed to develop new digital experiences.

Elton Escaleira, Product & Service Manager at Bosch, noted, "OutSystems Mentor and AI Agent Builder give us the productivity that pure GenAI tools promise while also addressing governance concerns and avoiding the vulnerabilities they may introduce."

With the introduction of Mentor, OutSystems aims to advance its position in the AI-powered low-code space amidst growing adoption of AI in software development. The tool is built on an agentic AI architecture that facilitates collaboration across various application development components, helping to produce high-quality applications from natural language inputs. This technology supports development teams by reducing time spent on routine tasks and enhancing their focus on strategic, high-impact work.

Paulo Rosado, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of OutSystems, stated, "Mentor reimagines the software development lifecycle, bringing AI and low-code together to not only speed development, but also enhance the quality, explainability, and governability of software solutions. Strong results from our Early Access Program underscore the value that Mentor delivers—it is the safest and fastest way for organisations to build the next generation of enterprise applications."

OutSystems has provided examples of how Mentor has been used by early adopters, such as Thermo Fisher and KPMG. In one case, a biotechnology company was able to produce a functional prototype of an employee management application with 15 screens in just 20 minutes, a process that would typically take a skilled developer several days.

Another instance involved an IT team from a biotechnology company that used Mentor to create a "Product Compare" application, achieving a significant portion of required functionality within minutes. While additional workflows and user interface adjustments were necessary, this approach streamlined the development process.

Amongst Thermo Fisher's projects was a learning platform, where Mentor automated routine CRUD operations and developed foundational components, allowing developers to focus on more sophisticated business logic.

KPMG utilised Mentor's documentation parsing capabilities to automate the creation of application components from user stories and technical PDFs, reportedly saving up to 40-50% of the time required for manual processes.

Arnal Dayaratna, Research Vice President, Software Development at IDC, remarked, "OutSystems Mentor has the potential to revolutionise generative AI development by simplifying complex processes, ensuring robust governance, and enabling seamless integration with enterprise systems. By providing an opinionated development stack, standardised workflows, and natural language–driven features, Mentor empowers developers to focus on innovation and scalability. This technology bridges the gap between advanced AI capabilities and enterprise needs that sets a new standard for general-purpose, AI-driven application development technologies for the enterprise."