In a recent podcast, Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress, discussed the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its role in the future of the platform. Here are the key takeaways from the conversation.
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AI as a New Tool for Creators
Mullenweg stated that AI is a powerful new tool for creators, much like the arrival of Photoshop or other revolutionary technologies. Previously, image editing was difficult and expensive, but AI has made many complex tasks radically more accessible and easy. For instance, image editing within WordPress, which was once limited, can now be done simply by describing the changes a user wants the AI to make.
How WordPress Developers Can Benefit from AI
Mullenweg suggested that developers and plugin and theme owners should start by using AI for their own personal productivity before integrating it into end-user products. Using AI as a “co-pilot” to automate repetitive tasks was extremely beneficial. The speed at which new AI tools have been developed has been enormous, and creators need to dedicate time to learning their capabilities and limitations.
AI and User Experience
The discussion also touched upon the integration of AI into products. While chatbots are a familiar interface, Mullenweg pointed out that the most useful AI tools are those that have a large amount of “context” about the user. A chatbot inside a plugin, for example, doesn’t know the user as well as a broader platform like ChatGPT or an operating system. Mullenweg stressed that the future lies in AI tools that can perform specific, targeted actions, making complex tasks more user-friendly.
The Role of WordPress in the AI Future
Mullenweg described WordPress as a “tool” and questioned the role of human creators in this future. As AI can create content with incredible speed, human “taste” and judgment have become even more important. Humans have a unique experience and knowledge that AI cannot replicate.
He pointed out that WordPress’s investment in accessibility and the creation of a strong framework like Gutenberg has paid off. By making interfaces more user-friendly for people, it has also made them more accessible to AI agents that mimic human behavior to navigate the web. This means that the goal of creating the best possible human experience aligns with the trajectory of technology, as machines will be able to better understand and use websites.
The Role of Technology in E-commerce
In the context of WooCommerce, Mullenweg saw great opportunities. For example, AI can help create personalized product images (e.g., showing what a shirt looks like on a customer) and automate administrative tasks. The development of the Abilities API in WordPress 6.9, which allows tools to perform specific actions (e.g., providing stock reports or updating orders), will be a very important primitive for the development of AI.
Mullenweg concluded that AI technology can rebalance power toward independent publishers and store owners, giving them the ability to compete with large platforms like Amazon.
