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 obtainable to WordPress customers free of charge, is focused at entrepreneurs, freelancers, bloggers, and others who want an expert on-line presence, the corporate says.

Presently, the AI builder shouldn’t be able to creating extra superior web sites like these wanted for e-commerce shops or others with complicated integrations.

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

To make use of the brand new device, 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 doable on this immediate, providing a website identify and quick 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 simply obtainable for brand-new web sites, the corporate notes.) After the positioning is created, customers can chat with the AI to make adjustments, or they’ll alter 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 offers individuals a solution to attempt the AI builder and see if it is going to 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 sometimes vary from $48 per yr for a private website to $300 per yr for a enterprise website. WordPress.com says that customers who create with the AI builder might want to decide between the Premium ($96/yr) and Enterprise plans, nevertheless.

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