Automattic, the parent company behind WordPress.com and other popular online tools, has announced its acquisition of WPAI, a company specializing in artificial intelligence solutions tailored for WordPress. Founded just two years ago, WPAI has quickly gained attention for innovative products like CodeWP (an AI-powered coding assistant for WordPress developers), AgentWP (an AI agent designed for WordPress tasks), and WP.Chat (an alternative to ChatGPT built specifically for WordPress users). Financial terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed.
The move signals Automattic’s growing interest in integrating advanced AI technology into WordPress, the platform that powers over 40% of the web.
A Team on the Move
WPAI’s founding team—James LePage, Greg Hunt, and Ovidiu “Ovi” Iulian Galatan—will join Automattic to lead AI innovations. “Our entire WPAI team is making the move to Automattic,” said LePage in a social media post. “We’ll be integrating our products, data, and tools into both new and existing offerings. We couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead.”
Automattic’s official announcement reveals that the WPAI team will focus on exploring applied AI as a new way to interact with WordPress, aiming to reshape how both users and developers engage with the platform.
What’s Changing for WPAI Products?
As part of the acquisition, WPAI’s flagship products—CodeWP and AgentWP—will be discontinued in their current forms. Automattic plans to reimagine and integrate the technology behind these tools into its broader ecosystem.
James LePage addressed the changes in a community post, sharing that CodeWP and AgentWP will be sunset by January 9th, 2024. Current subscribers will see their monthly subscriptions canceled without renewal, and annual subscribers will receive prorated refunds.
“We were punching above our weight class,” said LePage, hinting at the challenges faced by a smaller team in scaling their tools. “This move allows us to gather more resources and build a much more robust solution. The agent will be back!”
Mixed Reactions from Users
While many in the WordPress community are excited about the potential for new AI-powered tools under Automattic, some current customers have expressed disappointment about the retirement of CodeWP and AgentWP. Concerns about disruptions in workflows and feature availability have been raised.
LePage reassured users that the acquisition represents a long-term win for the community, promising that Automattic’s resources will allow for the development of even more powerful AI solutions.
Automattic’s Expanding AI Portfolio
The acquisition of WPAI is part of a larger trend for Automattic, which has been steadily bolstering its AI capabilities. Recently, the company acquired Harper, a grammar-checking tool designed for developers. Harper’s founder, Elijah Potter, has also joined Automattic as a “Code Wrangler.”
Matt Mullenweg, Automattic’s CEO, shared his enthusiasm on his personal blog: “Very excited to share that we’ve acquired WPAI and the team is joining Automattic. They have some very cool products including CodeWP, AgentWP, and WP.Chat.”
What’s Next?
With the WPAI team now onboard, Automattic is set to expand the role of AI within WordPress. By integrating WPAI’s cutting-edge technology into its offerings, the company hopes to revolutionize how users create, manage, and interact with their WordPress websites.
For WordPress users and developers, this marks the beginning of a new chapter—one where AI-powered tools could become essential to streamlining workflows and enhancing creativity.
Big news: WPAI Inc has been acquired by @automattic !https://t.co/DjG7BaIv21
Over the past two years, our team has worked tirelessly to build applied AI solutions that empower the WordPress ecosystem. Now, we're joining the company behind WordPress[.]com, WooCommerce, Tumblr,…
— James LePage (@jameswlepage) December 9, 2024
