WordPress.com has launched a new AI-powered site builder in early access, capable of constructing a functional WordPress website, including text, layout, and images, in minutes.
The AI site builder can create “beautiful, functional websites in minutes,” according to WordPress.com. However, it is currently not suitable for e-commerce sites or those with complex integrations, although the company plans to introduce these features in the future.
To use the builder, users need to have a WordPress.com account and start a free trial. While a credit card is not required for the trial, a WordPress.com hosting plan is necessary to make the site usable, with prices starting at $18 per month, or less if paid annually.
The builder operates through a chatbot interface, where users input prompts describing their desired site. The chatbot can ask further questions, such as business name and location, to refine the site’s content. It then generates headers, images, and text for the website based on the provided prompts.
Users can continue to interact with the chatbot to tweak various aspects of the site, including colors, styles, photos, and information. The AI-generated website can be transferred to WordPress.com’s hosting service, where it can be further edited manually or refined using the AI builder.
The tool is designed specifically for building new WordPress sites and is not compatible with pre-existing ones. In a demonstration, a fake retro videogame store website was created, resulting in a basic but functional site with AI-generated content.
The launch of the AI site builder comes as WordPress.com’s owner, Automattic, has recently undergone significant changes, including laying off 16% of its workforce. Additionally, Automattic is currently facing a lawsuit from WP Engine, a hosting company that offers site building tools, among other services.
