Internet hosting platform WordPress.com on Wednesday launched a brand new AI web site builder that enables anybody to create a functioning web site utilizing an AI chat-style interface. The function, which is being made accessible to WordPress customers without spending a dime, is focused at entrepreneurs, freelancers, bloggers, and others who want an expert on-line presence, the corporate says.

Right now, the AI builder isn’t able to creating extra superior web sites like these wanted for e-commerce shops or others with advanced integrations.

Whereas AI-powered web site builders are not new, the addition is designed to assist WordPress higher compete with corporations like Squarespace and Wix, which supply AI builders to hurry up web site creation and design. However like most of those builders at present, extra superior web site edits and layouts will nonetheless require an understanding of web site improvement and design instruments. In time, that might change because the AIs be taught from the edits customers make to their websites after the preliminary creation.

To make use of the brand new instrument, customers interact with an AI chatbot in a conversational fashion to design the web site with their very own textual content and pictures and to configure the positioning’s structure.

To get began, customers first sort in a immediate that explains their web site thought — like “construct a web site for my espresso store.” The corporate suggests being as particular as potential on this immediate, providing a web site identify and brief description, together with details about what kind of content material the positioning will host.

Customers then both join or log in with their WordPress account to observe the AI construct their web site for them. (The function is just accessible for brand-new web sites, the corporate notes.) After the positioning is created, customers can chat with the AI to make modifications, or they’ll regulate issues manually if most well-liked. The AI builder consists of 30 free prompts earlier than customers might want to select a internet hosting plan, all of which embrace limitless prompts. This provides individuals a option to attempt the AI builder and see if it can meet their wants earlier than committing to internet hosting on WordPress.com.

The corporate says the AI is powered by a mixture of self-hosted open supply fashions and externally hosted fashions.

To launch the finalized web site to the general public, a internet hosting plan is required. These usually vary from $48 per yr for a private web site to $300 per yr for a enterprise web site. WordPress.com says that customers who create with the AI builder might want to choose between the Premium ($96/yr) and Enterprise plans, nonetheless.

The plans embrace a set quantity of storage, a free area for a yr, entry to free premium themes, buyer assist, and extra. The AI builder is accessible alongside these plans at no further cost.