Automattic launches Telex, an AI tool for WordPress, aiming to restore open-source trust and outpace rivals by reshaping site creation.
Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com, has unveiled Telex, an experimental AI tool designed to generate WordPress Gutenberg blocks from simple text prompts. Announced by CEO Matt Mullenweg at WordCamp US in Portland, the tool marks a strategic pivot toward AI aimed at lowering barriers to web development and extending WordPress’s mission to democratise publishing.
Describing Telex as “a V0 or Lovable, but specifically for WordPress,” Mullenweg positioned the project as an enabler of creativity and accessibility. He added, “At the core of it, there is a seed of something, which is so enabling.” Currently available on its own domain, the prototype has drawn mixed reviews, with community testers noting that some blocks require manual fixes.
The move carries major open source implications. Telex could disrupt the existing plugin and theme economy by allowing users to create bespoke functionality instantly, creating opportunities for innovation but also challenging established developers. Mullenweg acknowledged Automattic’s responsibility to the community, writing in an internal memo, “I don’t think that will happen without our contributions.”
This pivot comes after a turbulent year marked by layoffs, legal disputes, and governance crises. Automattic faced a high-profile legal battle with WP Engine after forking the Advanced Custom Fields plugin. Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín issued an injunction in December 2024, ruling Automattic’s actions had “disrupted WP Engine’s operations and marginalised the company within the WordPress ecosystem.” In January, Automattic cut its Five for the Future contributions from 3,500 hours to 45, sparking community backlash.
Amid restructuring and a 16% workforce reduction, Automattic later resumed full WordPress contributions in May 2025, signalling reconciliation. With competitors like Wix and Squarespace embedding AI into their platforms, Telex underscores Automattic’s ambition to redefine open source development through AI and reclaim leadership in shaping the web’s future.
