In May 2026 WordPress 7.0 [Armstrong] added AI functionality into core, including a new ‘Connectors’ API. This is a very quick guide to what you need to know and how to disable it.
In their own words, WordPress describes the Connectors API as “a new framework for registering and managing connections to external services”. Ok, fair enough. That sounds like quite a good idea generally.
But they continue: “the initial focus is on AI providers, giving WordPress a standardized way to handle API key management, provider discovery, and admin UI for configuring AI services”.
What is the problem with AI in WordPress?
These features are exactly what WordPress doesn’t need. They enable what could be a massive increase in AI generated content, thanks to WordPress’ nearly 40% domination of websites across the internet. This could be a huge problem for sustainability, sloppy content, accessibility, dodgy imagery and woeful translations.
What AI integration means for WordPress website owners
It must be said, WordPress does not connect with an AI system by default. Not on activation or upgrade (not at the moment anyway). However, AI features are enabled by default, it is not an opt-in, rather an opt-out system.
WordPress will only connect with and use AI if you actively engage with those features, add plugins with AI functionality, or directly connect to a GenAI tool via the Connectors API.
Therefore, by default, WordPress 7.0 is no worse from a sustainability perspective. But it could be horrendous if these features are used, and used a lot.
It is important to note as well that it could cause massive increases in business spending on AI services. As the API use of AI tools sits separately to any other usage. So AI bills could skyrocket, and WordPress has no way of limiting or warning of usage at the moment.
Should you turn off AI features or not?
The truth is that choice is up to you. Personally, I would disable it by default on websites I create, unless a client really had a need for using it. Which, right now, I don’t see much of a legitimate need.
Apart from the sustainability aspects, another reason you may wish to disable these features relate to GDPR and other privacy laws, where data could be shared without real consent. Equally, where that data is sent and processed is another layer to add to your considerations. As quite likely, you won’t know or have any control over.
How to turn off AI features in WordPress
Personally, I know I won’t ever want to connect my website to AI services. Nor will most (maybe all) of my clients. So, I want to disable any related features. WordPress provides two methods for doing this.
The first is the WP_AI_SUPPORT constant which sits inside your wp-config.php file. It hard-disables AI before any plugin loads.
You can add into your wp-config file like so:
define('WP_AI_SUPPORT', false);
/* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */
The other is to use the wp_supports_ai filter runs later in the request lifecycle and can be hooked by any plugin to return false at runtime. While it is more flexible than the constant, it is open to manipulation by plugins. If your code isn’t running the highest priority, it could be overridden by a plugin.
If you don’t have code access or feel uncomfortable writing code, you can use the Turn Off AI Features plugin. Which will allow you to toggle the AI features off within the WordPress admin. This plugin uses the filter method rather than the constant.
There are potentially other useful AI blocking plugins as well.
Disable AI is a helpful little plugin that allows you to toggle off AI features in common use plugins such as Elementor or Yoast SEO.
Go one step further and hide the Connectors page
Alongside turning the features off, we can go one step further and hide the Connectors admin page entirely. Which I like as it helps create a cleaner admin area. To do so, you will need to write this filter into your functions.php file where you handle any other admin features.
remove_submenu_page('options-general.php', 'options-connectors.php');
So there we have it. A very quick take on AI in WordPress and how to disable it in a few different ways.