Do you need AI for deep linking?

No.

What does it even do?

Look, I get it. It's 2025. AI is everywhere. You can charge $49/mo for a non-AI app, but if you chuck AI into it - wham, $299/mo.

Now that I mention that 6x growth - checks pricing page maybe I should get Claude integrated into DLN...

But no, I'm not gonna do that, because it won't do squat.

AI has no use for deferred deep linking. Or deep linking in general.

Let's break down what deep linking actually is

For those who need a refresher, deep linking is simply the practice of using a URL to link to a specific page or state within a mobile app, rather than just launching the app's home screen. Deferred deep linking takes this a step further - it remembers where a user wanted to go even if they need to install the app first.

This is fundamentally a routing problem. It's about:

1. Capturing an intent ("user wants to go to product X")
2. Handling the technical hurdles (app installed? platform detection?)
3. Delivering the user to the right place

None of these steps benefit from AI. They're deterministic problems with clear solutions.

Why do MMPs spruik AI as a value-add?

Fraud detection. When your primary product is actually around attribution for ads, it's important to ensure that users clicking on ads and then counting as conversions are actually real.

It also adds value for analytics, insights and reporting. AI can help identify patterns in user behavior, optimize ad spend, and predict which channels might perform better for certain campaigns.

These are legitimate use cases for AI in the broader mobile marketing ecosystem. But they're not deep linking problems.

The AI hype cycle in mobile tech

Every few years, our industry latches onto a new buzzword. Remember when everything had to be "blockchain-enabled"? Or when "AR-powered" was the must-have feature?

AI is today's shiny object. And while it's genuinely transformative for many applications, it's being shoehorned into places where it adds little value.

Here's what AI is great at:

• Processing and analyzing vast amounts of unstructured data
• Finding patterns humans might miss
• Generating content and predictions based on learned patterns
• Automating complex decision-making with many variables

Here's what deep linking needs:

• Reliable URL routing
• Cross-platform compatibility
• Fast redirect times
• Simple setup and maintenance

See the mismatch?

So why don't we use AI in DeepLinkNow?

Because we don't do any of that extra stuff. We're a deferred deep linking platform, and you BYO analytics and reporting tools.

We focus on doing one thing exceptionally well: getting your users to the right place in your app, every time, regardless of their starting point or device state.

Our links work because they're built on solid engineering principles, not because they're "AI-powered." They're fast because we've optimized our infrastructure, not because we've trained a model to predict where users want to go.

What you should actually care about in a deep linking solution

Instead of asking "does it use AI?", here are better questions:

1. Reliability: Do the links work consistently across devices and platforms?
2. Speed: How quickly do users get redirected?
3. Ease of implementation: Can your developers integrate it without pulling their hair out?
4. Maintenance: Does it require constant tweaking or does it just work?
5. Cost: Are you paying for features you don't need?

At DeepLinkNow, we've optimized for these factors rather than jumping on the AI bandwagon.

When might AI actually help with deep linking?

To be fair, there are a few edge cases where AI could theoretically add value:

• Personalizing deep link destinations based on user behavior patterns
• Optimizing link timing for maximum engagement
• Predicting which products a user might be interested in for dynamic deep linking

But these are all things you can (and probably should) handle in your own app's logic or with your existing analytics stack. Adding an AI layer to your deep linking solution would be overkill.

The bottom line

Don't get bamboozled by buzzwords. Deep linking is a solved problem that doesn't need AI to work effectively.

What it needs is solid engineering, reliable infrastructure, and a team that understands the mobile ecosystem inside and out.

That's what we provide at DeepLinkNow - no AI required, no inflated price tag, just links that work.

And hey, if you really want AI in your mobile marketing stack, there are plenty of great tools out there. Just don't expect your deep linking provider to be one of them.