Automattic snaps up WPAI to bring native AI to WordPress
Automattic just acquired WPAI, the startup behind WordPress AI tools like CodeWP and AgentWP. The standalone apps will be sunsetted and folded directly into Automattic's core platform, with WPAI's founders joining to lead its AI roadmap. Why it matters: It marks Automattic's second acquisition in two months, signaling a major push to make AI coding and site management a native part of WordPress.
WordPress site builders might soon get a whole lot more AI horsepower under the hood.
Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, just announced the acquisition of WPAI, a startup dedicated to building AI-native tools for the WordPress ecosystem. Financial terms were kept under wraps.
Absorbing the tools into core WordPress
WPAI is best known for three key products: CodeWP, an AI tool designed to generate WordPress plugins; AgentWP, an assistant for site builders; and WP Chat, a chatbot trained on WordPress troubleshooting.
Those standalone services won't stay as they are for long. WPAI noted that CodeWP and AgentWP will be discontinued in their current standalone forms and integrated directly into Automattic's product lineup.
WPAI's founding team is also moving over to Automattic to take the wheel on its broader WordPress AI initiatives. Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg personally confirmed the deal on his blog.
According to WPAI, the new mission focuses on building foundational AI standards for WordPress and upgrading core platform functionality, all while respecting open-source values.
This marks Automattic's second acquisition in just two months, following its recent purchase of Harper, an on-device grammar-checking tool aimed at developers.
Why it matters
Automattic already had basic AI text-generation and post-trimming features, but text generation is just table stakes. What actually bogs WordPress users down is tweaking code, handling PHP hooks, and dealing with conflicting plugins.
By bringing WPAI in-house, Automattic isn't just buying another wrapper; it's buying domain-specific models trained on WordPress architecture. The smart play here is folding developer-grade agentic tools directly into the CMS core, which could eventually let everyday users build custom plugins using natural language.
The downside? Current WPAI power users will have to endure a disruptive transition as their favorite standalone tools get retired. We also think Automattic faces a delicate balancing act: integrating proprietary AI deeply into a platform whose identity relies on a fiercely independent open-source developer ecosystem.
Sources (1)
- techcrunch.com(opens in a new tab)Originaltechcrunch.com