Automattic has acquired WPAI, a two-year-old startup that builds AI-powered solutions for WordPress.

WPAI’s product lineup includes CodeWP, an AI tool for generating WordPress plugins; AgentWP, an AI assistant designed to support site builders; and WP.Chat, a chatbot for WordPress-related queries. 

As part of the acquisition, WPAI’s team will join Automattic’s operations, with WPAI founder James LePage leading “the exploration of applied AI as an interaction paradigm for WordPress,” according to an announcement on Automattic’s blog. 

“WPAI is known for its innovative products like CodeWP, an AI integrated development environment (IDE) for WordPress developers, and AgentWP, one of the earliest implementations of an autonomous AI agent capable of executing complex tasks through independent reasoning and logic, marking a significant advancement in practical AI applications for CMSs,” Automattic said in its announcement. “The technology powering these platforms will be reimagined and integrated into new offerings at Automattic.”

Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg also announced the deal separately on his personal blog.

As part of the transition, CodeWP and AgentWP will be discontinued, with their underlying technology repurposed for new Automattic products, according to WPAI’s announcement. The WPAI team’s work at Automattic will focus on making WordPress more accessible through applied AI solutions, including developing AI standards for WordPress, improving the platform’s core functionality, and creating tools to help users build and manage their websites.

LePage said he was excited to join forces with Automattic to push the boundaries of how AI could make a greater impact on WordPress, a CMS that now powers 43.6% of the web.

“By integrating our technology and research into Automattic’s products, we can accelerate toward making WordPress, the Operating System of the Web, more accessible to everyone,” LePage said.

The acquisition is Automattic’s latest step into the AI space, following the launch of an AI assistant in Jetpack in June and Write Brief with AI, an AI writing tool for WordPress.com, in August. It also marks Automattic’s second major deal in recent weeks, following its acquisition of Harper, a Grammarly competitor for developers.