How to Build WordPress Plugins & Blocks with AI [Demos Included]

AI is no longer something futuristic. It has already become a game-changer. In our recent webinar, we explored how AI is transforming WordPress plugin and block development, making it faster, smarter, and more efficient.

From AI-powered coding to real-world demos, this session was packed with actionable knowledge. Let’s dive into the key takeaways. On popular demand, we have decided to convert the webinar into a comprehensive blog post.

How Plugin Development Has Evolved

Building WordPress plugins used to be a manual, time-consuming process. Developers would write every line of code, troubleshoot errors for hours, and dig through documentation to get things right. But with AI, the game has changed.

Now, AI can:

Generate entire functions or plugin templates in seconds
Suggest best practices for security and performance
Help debug and refactor code faster than ever before

This means even beginners can build functional plugins, while experienced developers can supercharge their workflow.

Useful AI Tools for WordPress Development Using AI

Developers nowadays have access to various AI tools designed to speed up and enhance the development experience. Here are six of the most effective ones when it comes to building WordPress plugins and blocks:

#1 – Cursor: AI-Powered VS Code Fork

Cursor is an AI-enhanced version of Visual Studio Code, designed specifically to help developers write, review, and debug code more efficiently. It’s particularly useful for long-term WordPress projects where consistency and context matter.

Key Features:

Ask Mode – Developers can chat with AI about specific code challenges, request suggestions, or explain what a snippet does.
Agent Mode – Cursor’s AI can automatically refactor or edit code based on prompts, saving hours of manual work.
Notepads – Store ongoing context, notes, and prompts to maintain continuity across multiple development sessions.

#2 – GitHub Copilot: AI-Assisted Code Suggestions

Built by GitHub and powered by OpenAI, GitHub Copilot acts like an intelligent autocomplete for code. It’s a great tool for both beginners and pros who want to eliminate repetitive tasks and move quickly through development phases.

What it Offers:

Predictive code completion for functions, hooks, and loops
Boilerplate generation for WordPress themes and plugins
Inline comments and documentation for better code readability

In WordPress projects, Copilot excels at writing PHP for custom post types, generating Gutenberg block scaffolding, or suggesting WooCommerce hooks—all while learning from your coding style.

#3 – Grok: Twitter/X’s AI Tool for Developers

Grok, developed by X (formerly Twitter), isn’t purpose-built for WordPress, but it’s a creative brainstorming partner for developers. It’s great for planning features, reviewing strategies, or coming up with code structure ideas.

Best Used For:

Early-stage ideation for plugins or block features
Writing initial pseudocode
Sparking discussions around architecture and best practices

It’s less hands-on with actual code execution but highly useful for the thinking phase of development.

#4 – ChatGPT: AI for Instruction Files, Prompts & Documentation

ChatGPT is arguably the most versatile tool in this list. It can generate detailed plugin instructions, explain WordPress functions, assist in writing settings pages, and even help debug strange behavior in code.

Ideal Use Cases:

Creating plugin specs and functional documentation
Writing functions.php, block.json, or edit.js code for blocks
Designing test cases and QA instructions for automated testing
Explaining complex PHP/JS code in plain language

When paired with a good prompting strategy, ChatGPT can become your go-to assistant for structured, reusable development workflows.

Pro Tip: Combine these tools for best results. For instance, use ChatGPT to generate plugin specs, Cursor to maintain coding context, and GitHub Copilot to accelerate repetitive tasks.

#5 WP Scripts: Streamlining Block Development

For those focused on Gutenberg block development, WP Scripts is a game-changer. It simplifies the development experience by offering pre-configured build tools tailored to the Block Editor.

What WP Scripts Does:

Bundles and compiles modern JavaScript and CSS
Ensures compatibility with the latest Block Editor APIs
Provides linting and debugging support

This tool is especially helpful when working with AI-generated code, as it ensures that the final output remains performant and maintainable.

#6 – InstaWP: The Developer’s Staging Playground

This tool provides instant WordPress environments ideal for testing AI-generated code. InstaWP is particularly valuable when working with untested code or new plugin concepts, as you can validate functionality without risking your production site.

Why InstaWP is Useful:

Instantly spin up staging sites for plugin or block testing
Build, manage, sell, host and demo using the same platform
Connects with VS Code and WP-CLI for real-time editing
Offers a safe, sandboxed space to experiment with AI code

AI for Beginners & Experienced Developers

AI doesn’t replace coding skills; it enhances them. Here’s how different developers can benefit:

Beginners: AI provides structured guidance, helping them learn faster by generating sample code and explanations.
Experienced developers: AI speeds up the coding process, reduces errors, and streamlines debugging and documentation.

With AI as a coding assistant, building WordPress plugins is more accessible than ever.

How to Build a WooCommerce Plugin with AI

Useful Resources:

We are going to document Brian Coords’ AI-powered WooCommerce plugin next. He showcased how AI can assist in building a WooCommerce Music Top Seller Banner plugin, which:

Adds a banner to products in the “Music” category
Includes a settings page for customization
Uses AI assistance while maintaining security best practices

Step 1: Defining the Plugin’s Goal and Scope

Before jumping into code, Brian started with a clear objective:

“I want to create a plugin that adds a ‘Top Seller’ banner to WooCommerce products in the Music category. It should also allow customization via a settings page.”

Defining the goal upfront helps AI generate more accurate and structured code.

Step 2: Writing Effective AI Prompts for WordPress Plugin Code

AI is only as good as the prompts you provide. Instead of asking,

“Write a WooCommerce plugin”

A better prompt would be:

“Generate a WordPress plugin that adds a customizable ‘Top Seller’ banner to WooCommerce products in the Music category, with a settings page for customization.”

By adding details, you ensure that AI-generated code aligns with your needs.

Step 3: Testing and Refining AI-Generated Code

AI can generate a solid foundation, but manual testing and refinement are key:

Security: Checking for potential vulnerabilities in AI-generated code.
Performance: Optimizing functions for WooCommerce compatibility.
Customization: Adjusting CSS and JavaScript for UI enhancements.

Brian emphasized that AI should never replace human review—it’s a tool to accelerate, not automate, development.

Step 4: Plugin Maintenance and Optimization

Once the plugin was functional, Brian looked at long-term maintenance strategies:

Keeping AI-generated code modular and well-documented
Regularly testing compatibility with WooCommerce updates
Using GitHub Copilot to suggest small refinements and fixes

Best Practices for Using AI-Generated Code

Structure AI prompts properly for maintainable code
Always review AI-generated code for security and performance
Avoid over-reliance on AI—use it to assist, not replace, your development skills

With this approach, even complex WooCommerce plugins can be built faster and smarter with AI.

How to Build WordPress Blocks with AI

Building WordPress blocks has become easier and more efficient with AI. Nick Diego, a Developer Relations Advocate at Automattic, demonstrated this by creating a Custom WordPress Notice Block—a versatile block for adding styled notices like:

Note – General information
Tip – Helpful suggestions
Warning – Cautionary alerts
Caution – Critical alerts for important actions

Step 1: Generating the Block’s Structure with AI

Nick started by asking AI:

“Generate a basic Gutenberg block with block.json, index.js, and edit.js for a styled notice block in WordPress.”

AI quickly produced a basic block template, including registration, attributes, and placeholder styles.

Step 2: Implementing the Block Using WP Scripts

Using WP Scripts for optimized development, Nick refined the AI-generated code:

Enhanced block attributes (e.g., notice type: “note”, “tip”, “warning”, “caution”)
Improved block UI with color-coded styles for different notice types
Added real-time customization in the Block Editor sidebar

Step 3: Security and Performance Optimization

AI-generated code often lacks security considerations. To fix this, Nick manually:

Sanitized inputs to prevent security vulnerabilities
Reviewed JavaScript logic to eliminate inefficiencies
Tested performance in different WordPress environments

How AI Enhances Block Development

AI can speed up block creation, but it’s not magic. Here’s how it helps:

Generates block structure – Saves time by scaffolding a basic block template
Optimizes block attributes & styles – Suggests efficient CSS, HTML, and JavaScript
Enhances JavaScript logic – Improves block interactivity and state management
Speeds up learning – Helps new developers understand React-based Gutenberg blocks faster

However, AI isn’t perfect. Many developers make mistakes when integrating AI-generated code, which we’ll cover next.

Common Mistakes When Using AI for Block Development

Ignoring Security Reviews – AI doesn’t automatically follow security best practices. Manual code review is a must.
Over-Complicating Blocks – AI-generated code can be bloated. Keeping it lean improves performance.
Using Outdated AI Suggestions – AI doesn’t always provide up-to-date Gutenberg practices. Always cross-check with official WordPress documentation.
Lack of Optimization – AI can suggest inefficient React logic, leading to sluggish performance in the Block Editor.

What NOT to Do with AI in Plugin Development

AI is powerful, but misusing it can be dangerous. Here are key risks to watch out for:

#1 – Over-Reliance on AI

Developers who blindly trust AI-generated code risk introducing bugs, inefficiencies, and security flaws. AI can generate working code, but it doesn’t always understand WordPress best practices.

#2 – Security Vulnerabilities in AI Code

AI doesn’t inherently follow security standards. Developers must sanitize inputs, validate user data, and prevent SQL injection & XSS attacks.

#3 – When Manual Coding is Still Necessary

Some areas where manual coding is still the best approach:

Performance-critical features
Custom Gutenberg optimizations
Security-sensitive tasks, e.g., user authentication, permissions, and API handling, require human oversight.

#4 – The Dangers of “Vibe-Code” in WordPress Development

AI sometimes produces random, unnecessary, or overly complex code, what people on social media humorously called “vibe-code”. It may look impressive but serves no real purpose.

The fix? Always review, test, and refine AI-generated code before using it in production.

Questions that might be bugging you

How can WordPress agencies or freelancers quickly adopt AI without steep learning curves?

Start small! Instead of diving deep into AI development, begin with AI-assisted coding tools like GitHub Copilot or ChatGPT. Use them for boilerplate code, debugging, and brainstorming.

Agencies can integrate AI for site audits, content generation, and automating repetitive tasks like plugin testing. The key is to experiment, refine, and gradually expand AI usage.

What are common mistakes developers make when first using AI in WordPress projects?

One of the biggest mistakes is trusting AI blindly.

AI-generated code often lacks optimization, security checks, or proper WordPress coding standards. Another issue? Poorly written prompts—vague instructions lead to messy, inefficient code. Always review AI suggestions, refactor where necessary, and test rigorously before deployment.

How can developers address security concerns with AI-generated code?

Never assume AI-generated code is secure! AI doesn’t automatically sanitize user inputs, prevent SQL injection, or follow WordPress security best practices. Always:

Sanitize & validate inputs
Check permissions & user roles
Run security audits with tools like WPScan
Manually review AI-generated code before deployment

Where do you see AI’s role in WordPress evolving over the next year?

AI is set to become more deeply integrated into WordPress, from block-based development to site management. We’ll see:

AI-powered debugging & testing
More automation in site optimization & security monitoring
AI-driven personalization for user experience
Improved AI-assisted coding within the Block Editor

What are you building right now using AI?

Developers are experimenting with AI-powered plugin generators, automated testing tools, and intelligent site analytics. Many are using AI for performance monitoring, content SEO suggestions, and dynamic user personalization. The goal? Less manual work, more efficiency!