WordPress Ships Native AI in Gutenberg 22.7 With API Connectors

WordPress has added AI directly into its core platform with Gutenberg 22.7. This is not a plugin. OpenAI is the first connector, built into WordPress itself, and it brings content generation features to the standard editing experience.

From Placeholder to Functional

WordPress 7 introduced a connectors settings panel that let you configure API keys for AI language models, but it was not doing anything. Gutenberg 22.7 changes that. The new API connectors settings page is live and functional, with OpenAI as the first supported provider.

Dan Davies speaking to camera with "AI IN WORDPRESS CORE" text overlay, in his home office

The fact that this lives in WordPress core, not as a plugin, matters. Core features get ongoing maintenance, security updates, and compatibility testing that plugins cannot guarantee.

What It Can Do

The initial feature set covers practical content tasks:

Generate featured images for posts
Update excerpts
Generate review notes
Create AI summaries
Generate alt text for images

WordPress Gutenberg editor showing the "Generate new featured image" option, AI Generated Featured Image placeholder, and "Generate Review Notes" button in the post sidebar

These are workflow-level improvements. Featured image generation saves time hunting for stock photos. Automated alt text improves accessibility without manual effort. Review notes help editorial teams collaborate on content.

The Bigger Picture

WordPress powers over 40% of websites on the internet. By putting AI into core rather than leaving it to the plugin ecosystem, WordPress is positioning itself as an AI-native CMS. The API architecture supports multiple providers, so while OpenAI is first, the framework can accommodate others as the landscape evolves.

Dan Davies explaining the implications, speaking directly to camera

This is still early. The features are limited to content generation tasks, and questions about data privacy, API costs, and user control remain open. But the foundation is in place, and the direction is clear.

Key Takeaways

Gutenberg 22.7 adds native AI via an API connectors framework built into WordPress core
OpenAI is the first supported provider, with architecture for adding others
Initial features focus on content generation: featured images, excerpts, summaries, alt text, and review notes
This is a core feature, not a plugin, signaling that WordPress views AI as standard functionality