In a recent WordPress.com article, Nick Schäferhoff describes eight must-use AI tools that web developers can use to build and manage WordPress sites faster and more efficiently. He focuses on tools that integrate natural language prompts into coding, site building, and WordPress-specific workflows, rather than generic AI chatbots.
In the article, Schäferhoff introduces the following eight AI‑powered web development tools, briefly highlighting their usefulness and how they improve workflow.
Studio Assistant
Studio Assistant is an AI chatbot integrated directly into WordPress Studio, the free local development app from WordPress.com. It helps developers manage and modify local WordPress sites using natural language prompts.
- Writes PHP, JavaScript, and CSS, and can recommend plugins and themes, update plugins, run WP-CLI commands, and open site files directly from chat
- Answers development questions based on the site’s actual context, reducing time spent navigating menus or memorizing commands
- Free to use inside WordPress Studio after logging in with a WordPress.com account
Cursor
Cursor is an AI-powered code editor designed to streamline writing, editing, and debugging within a familiar development environment.
- Predicts code completions across lines and files, with autocorrect for syntax and agent-style natural language editing
- Can fix lint errors, run terminal commands from inside the editor, and answer questions about the code it generates
- Not WordPress-specific, but can be tuned to follow the coding standards and frameworks of your choice
Perplexity
Perplexity is an AI-powered research tool that delivers synthesized, citation-backed answers instead of simple search results.
- Works well for debugging and learning, especially when looking up APIs, error messages, or framework behavior
- Gives natural language answers with source citations so you can verify information
- Better suited for planning and research than for deep, project-aware coding support
OpenAI Codex
OpenAI Codex is a software engineering-focused AI model that translates natural language descriptions into executable code across multiple languages.
- Works as a cloud-based assistant and as a terminal tool via Codex CLI
- Can write or fix code, propose pull requests, run tests or linters, and answer questions about the codebase
- Supports multimodal input such as text, screenshots, or diagrams, and lets you review changes before merging them
Claude Code
Claude Code is a terminal-driven AI coding assistant that supports writing, reviewing, and improving code through conversational prompts.
- Helps with feature development, debugging, Git workflows, automated testing, and documentation generation
- Can assist with generating plugins or themes, resolving conflicts, and improving project documentation
- Integrates with common developer tools, making it useful for maintaining larger WordPress projects
GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot is a widely used AI code assistant embedded in many popular IDEs and the GitHub ecosystem.
- Offers context-aware code suggestions and completions as you write, with a chat interface for debugging support
- Can make multi-file changes from prompts and automate parts of the development workflow
- Adapts to your coding style and supports PHP, JavaScript, CSS, and REST-style APIs
Telex
Telex is an experimental Automattic tool for generating WordPress blocks through natural language prompts in a browser-based environment.
- Requires no local install; generates block code prototypes that can be previewed, refined, and downloaded as plugins
- Useful for scaffolding ideas and learning from real block code
- Still evolving based on user feedback
AI Website Builder
The WordPress.com AI Website Builder is a prompt-driven tool that generates entire WordPress sites from a short descriptive prompt.
- Scaffolds a draft site with pages, layouts, and content based on a brief description
- Built-in AI chat helps customize layouts, colors, fonts, pages, and text after creation
- Free trial available; publishing a live site requires a paid WordPress.com plan
Summary
These tools support different stages of the WordPress development workflow. Project-aware coding assistants like Studio Assistant, Claude Code, and OpenAI Codex help build and manage real codebases through natural language interaction. AI-enhanced code editors like Cursor and GitHub Copilot improve day-to-day coding efficiency with intelligent suggestions and automation. Research and site generation tools like Perplexity, Telex, and the WordPress.com AI Website Builder assist with research, idea exploration, prototyping, and full site creation.
Acknowledgement: This summary was generated using AI writing tools as part of my AI Explorations process. For more information, please refer to the original article listed below.
Related resource links
- 8 Must-Try AI Tools for Web Development (Build Faster & Smarter) | WordPress.com
- A Complete How-To Guide to Perplexity AI | Perplexity