WordPress.com has introduced an AI-powered site builder that can create functional WordPress websites complete with AI-generated text, layouts, and images in minutes, revolutionizing the website creation process.
WordPress.com’s new AI-powered site builder is available in early access and can construct a WordPress webpage, including fully written text, layout, generated images, and more. The AI website builder can make “beautiful, functional websites in minutes,” according to WordPress.com. However, it currently has limitations, as it can’t yet handle the heavy lifting of creating an ecommerce site or one with “complex integrations,” but the company says to stay tuned for such features.
To access the AI Site Builder free trial, users need a WordPress.com account. While a credit card is not required on file to use the tool, a WordPress.com hosting plan is necessary to make the site usable, starting at $18 per month, or less if you pay for a whole year or more. The builder works by inputting prompts into a chatbot, allowing users to describe their desired site, such as a personal or business site, header style, and preferred colors. WordPress.com advises being as specific as possible in the first prompt to get better results. The chatbot can also ask for additional information like business name and location.
The AI Site Builder generates a site complete with AI-generated headers, images, and text based on the user’s prompts. Users can then continue to prompt the chatbot to tweak elements such as colors, styles, photos, and information to be included. The generated site includes sections like Discover, Events, and Visit Us, populated with AI-generated content. For instance, a trial run created a basic but serviceable site for a fake retro videogame store, complete with random AI-generated gameroom images and event details.
Once the site is built, it can be transferred to WordPress.com’s hosting service, where users can continue working on it manually or return to the AI builder for further modifications. It’s worth noting that the tool is currently limited to creating new WordPress instances and cannot be used for pre-existing sites.
The launch of the AI Site Builder comes at a time when Automattic, the owner of WordPress.com, is undergoing significant changes, having recently laid off 16 percent of its workforce. Additionally, Automattic is facing a lawsuit from WP Engine, a hosting company that provides website building and management tools, adding to the company’s current challenges.
