WordPress has come a long way, but what’s next? According to Matt Mullenweg, the future looks brighter than ever. In a recent podcast, he shared exciting insights about WordPress’s growth, touching on security, AI integration, and reducing technical debt. He also opened up about leadership succession, stressing the need for a clear vision to guide WordPress forward.
Mullenweg highlighted four key improvements on the horizon:
With these changes, WordPress isn’t just keeping up-it’s leading the way in shaping the future of web development.
One of WordPress’s biggest strengths is also its biggest challenge – third-party themes and plugins. They give users the freedom to build unique websites, but they also introduce security risks. Most vulnerabilities in WordPress come from plugin or theme coding flaws, along with users failing to update their software.
Matt Mullenweg talked about existing security measures like bug bounties, where people get paid for responsibly reporting vulnerabilities. However, he pointed out that relying only on humans isn’t enough. The scale of the problem is too vast, making manual detection ineffective.
He believes AI-powered code scanning is the future. This technology can analyze millions of lines of code and detect security flaws before they become threats. Mullenweg shared his thoughts:
| “… many of these plugins and themes don’t have the same sort of robust security and review process that core has. So that’s where when you hear about security issues with WordPress, it’s very rarely in core, anymore. We haven’t had a remote exploit in like… I think five years, six years something.
So we kind of rely on developers to review that and manage. And of course we have bug bounties and everything so that when things are reported we fix it quickly. |
With AI stepping in, security threats from plugins and themes may soon become a thing of the past. WordPress is actively working to make websites safer for everyone.
AI is already changing the way websites are built, and WordPress is embracing this shift. Matt Mullenweg envisions a future where AI doesn’t just assist users – it actively builds websites using WordPress as its foundation. This isn’t just speculation; some web hosts are already using AI-powered chatbots to simplify website creation.
Matt explains that AI is great at writing code, but maintaining it is a different challenge. That’s where WordPress plays a crucial role. Websites rely on PHP and other evolving technologies, which means the software running them needs regular updates and maintenance. AI can build on these technologies without worrying about the backend, allowing WordPress maintenance to keep the core system stable and up to date.
Mullenweg believes this open-source approach is more powerful than using closed-source systems. In fact, rather than being threatened by AI, WordPress stands to benefit from it. He sees a strong future where AI and WordPress work together seamlessly.
Matt shared his thoughts:
| “The other thing that’s really exciting is that right now, you see people building apps and stuff and it’s custom generated code. But I think the next generation of these models… as everyone knows, just writing the code is one part of it. It’s maintaining it that really becomes the life cycle of it.
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With AI evolving, WordPress isn’t just keeping up – it’s becoming the go-to platform for smart, automated website building.
Every product comes with a hidden cost – the effort needed to maintain it. Lenny pointed this out during the conversation, and Matt Mullenweg completely agreed. In the world of WordPress maintenance, this challenge is known as technical debt – the accumulation of outdated code, complex structures, and past development choices that make future updates harder.
Matt explained that even large companies with massive market value often struggle with technical debt. WordPress isn’t immune to this issue, but addressing it is a top priority. Some areas of WordPress haven’t been reviewed in a while, and he acknowledged that improvements are overdue.
Mullenweg shared his thoughts:
| “Well, that’s why I think technical debt is one of the most interesting concepts. You know, there’s so many companies …that maybe have like big market caps. But I feel like they might have billions or tens of billions of dollars of technical debt. …how their products interface with themselves.
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By focusing on the core system and refining outdated elements, WordPress is ensuring that future updates will be smoother, more efficient, and better suited to users’ needs.
Many assume that WordPress is led by a single person, but Matt Mullenweg set the record straight. He emphasized that WordPress thrives as a community-driven platform, where core contributors collaborate through committees to make key decisions. However, he also believes that strong leadership is essential. A clear decision-maker at the top doesn’t weaken WordPress – it actually makes it stronger.
On governance and leadership, Matt shared:
| “If you look at the daily commits and activity and everything, it is run by the community. So it’s hundreds of volunteers every day that are actually doing the day-to-day work and making the data decisions, everything happens.
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Matt made it clear that while committees play a huge role in decision-making, WordPress still needs a strong leader to guide it forward. His vision is to ensure the platform remains innovative, secure, and adaptable – even when leadership changes in the future.
Matt Mullenweg’s insights make one thing clear – WordPress is constantly evolving to stay ahead. From stronger security to AI-powered website building, the platform is shaping a future where websites are easier to create and maintain. The focus on reducing technical debt also ensures that WordPress remains efficient, reliable, and adaptable.
Beyond technology, leadership plays a crucial role. While the WordPress community drives daily improvements, having a clear decision-maker keeps things on track. This balance between collaboration and leadership strengthens the platform’s long-term vision.
If you’re looking to build or upgrade your website, now is the perfect time to hire WordPress developer professionals who understand these changes. For expert guidance and seamless WordPress maintenance, check out Wpcaps, a trusted name in keeping WordPress sites secure and optimized.
