How WordPress Can Integrate with AI

Key Takeaways

• WordPress 7.0 introduced the Connectors tab to WordPress backends.
• A case study on setting up AI Provider for Google and why it doesn’t work on our website.
• AI plugins are limited in how they work and are still in their infancy stage.

WordPress is one of the latest technology platforms to integrate with AI. With WordPress version 7.0, which was released in May of 2026, all websites running a WordPress.org website now have the option to integrate multiple AI platforms into the website. 

How WordPress’s Integration with AI Works

First, it is important to note that AI integration is built directly into WordPress. That means all websites that are running WordPress 7.0 or above have the option to use AI tools.

In order to activate an AI connector, you simply need to navigate to the ‘Settings’ tab in the WordPress backend sidebar, then click on ‘Connectors’. Use the screenshot below as a guide. This screenshot was taken from Blue Zenith’s website’s back end, and you will likely see items in the navigation bar that you don’t see on your website, but the ‘Connectors’ tab will always be in the same place. Use the connectors page to manage your connections and API keys.

 
Once you are on the connectors page, you will see a list of potential connectors, such as ‘Anthropic’, ‘Google’, and ‘OpenAI’. 

You will need to install each connector individually as a plugin in order to use it. After a connector is installed, you’ll need to grab and install an API key (instructions are provided after you install one of the connectors). The process to set up an API key may differ from platform to platform, but once it is set up, you can start using it right away. 

Case Study: Using AI Provider for Google

For full transparency, I did not play around with these new features until I started writing this blog post. That means I am learning as I write this with the idea that my testing will help you along your journey to using AI in WordPress.

The first thing I did was install AI Provider for Google. I did this by clicking the ‘Install’ button next to Google’s AI option on the connectors page. I then ran through the process to create and install the API key, which took only a few minutes.

Here is a screenshot of the connector’s page after AI Provider for Google was installed:

 
However, with Google’s AI connector installed, I still couldn’t use it. I discovered that I was missing a key element – WordPress’s own AI plugin. Apparently, WordPress’s AI plugin is necessary in order to create the dashboard to use Google’s AI plugin. 

A Quick Word on SiteGround’s AI Agent

First of all, we do use SiteGround, and so when WordPress updated to 7.0, SiteGround installed its own connector plugin. If you follow WordPress and SiteGround news, this was a massive blunder that resulted in review bombing the plugin. Apparently, I was one of the few people who actually read the email SiteGround sent out before they installed the plugin, as their email clearly stated that they would be installing it when they updated WordPress. I even chatted with SiteGround support and requested that it not get installed on certain websites – and they honored that. 

The reason I brought up the AI Agent by SiteGround plugin is that you did not need to have WordPress’s AI plugin in order to use SiteGround’s AI Agent. Instead, if you used the SiteGround AI Agent, it added a little widget to the bottom corner of each backend page and frontend page. Using it costs monthly credits, which you have a certain amount per month before you need to start paying for it. 

I deactivated that plugin soon after it was installed simply because we chose not to use it, and I personally found that the little widget got in the way when I was trying to edit the website. 

Testing out Editor Experiments

 
Anyway, back to AI Provider for Google. After I installed WordPress’s AI plugin, I now understand why it was necessary. The WordPress AI plugin adds a page to the backend of your site where you can toggle on and off different Editor Experiments. For instance, you can toggle on ‘Meta Description Generation’, ‘Title Generation’, and ‘Type-ahead Text’. 

In order to begin using it, you must first toggle on ‘Enable AI’, and this toggle is found at the very top of the screen. Once that is toggled on, you can start to play around with the AI features. 

This is where I hit a major roadblock. Even though I attempted to look this up before I started testing out these features, I didn’t realize that AI Provider for Google requires Gutenberg. Because we use Divi, we cannot use any of the AI features from Google’s AI Provider plugin. We also have Classic Editor installed so we can continue to utilize WordPress’s classic editor when posting blog posts. 

Even though this case study ended in a roadblock, don’t be discouraged. There are many other options to integrate AI into your WordPress website. Just remember that you should never use AI to replace your unique voice and perspective. If you have it write for you, be sure to add back in your unique voice, or train it to write in your voice. AI is a tool, and can never replace your unique voice and perspective. 

Powered by WordPress: Supported by AI

Each AI connector offers similar, but different support options. For example, Anthropic allows for text and image generation, but OpenAI allows for text, image, and audio generation.

As we found out, the AI plugins may not work for every website. Many of the AI Agents require Gutenberg’s block editor. It is possible that these tools may end up integrating with other themes in the future. That being said, Divi AI and Elementor AI already exist. 

Final Verdict on AI Integrations

If you want your website to integrate with AI, you first need to do your research and figure out what AI connector will work for your website. If you use Gutenberg, then you can likely use many of the AI connectors. But if you use Divi or Elementor, you may want to just use their AI tools. 

AI is everywhere, so it can be easy to forget that many of these AI features are still in their infancy. It is likely that many of these AI plugins and features will change and evolve within the next few months. Also, keep in mind that many of these plugins and tools do require the use of tokens, and those tokens can quickly get used up if you are not paying attention.

How WordPress Can Integrate with AI: Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need Gutenberg in order to use AI Provider for Google’s WordPress Plugin?

Short Answer: Yes, it is necessary.

Explanation:  AI Provider for Google is built exclusively for the Gutenberg block editor. It does not support the Classic Editor at the time this post was written.

What AI plugins for WordPress do not require Gutenberg?

Short Answer: AI Engine, AI Puffer, and GetGenie.

Explanation: Even though the plugins listed above may not be listed in on the connectors page, they offer their own set of AI tools. At over 100,000 downloads, AI Engine is the most used of the three. It uses its own dedicated admin panel where you can generate text, create images, translate content, and more. AI Puffer has 10,000+ downloads, and it can generate WooCommerce product titles, bulk-generate dozens of blog posts from keyword lists, and more. Finally, GetGenie has 80,000+ downloads, and its main focus is to help with SEO.

Is it worth it to add AI features to my WordPress website in 2026?

Short Answer: Yes, but it depends on how you use it.

Explanation: While many of the AI tools can help you generate text, images, and other media, the main focus of using AI in your website is to increase operational efficiency. This means tasking it to do bulk tasks, such as updating metatitles or product descriptions. Always remember that AI can and does frequently make mistakes, so reviewing its work is always a good idea.