The WP Minute+

Matt Medeiros
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  • Tech News
  • Updated twice weekly

For long-form interviews, news, and commentary about the WordPress ecosystem. This is the companion show to The WP Minute, your favorite 5-minutes of WordPress news every week.

  1. 10 hr ago

    ACF Is Getting an AI Upgrade — But It’s Not What You Think

    Thanks Pressable for supporting the show! Get your special hosting deal at https://pressable.com/wpminuteBecome a WP Minute Supporter & Slack member at https://thewpminute.com/support Advanced Custom Fields has been a developer favorite in WordPress for more than a decade. Now it’s getting ready for the AI era — without throwing away what made developers love it in the first place. In this episode of The WP Minute, Eric Karkovack sits down with Iain Poulson, Senior Product Manager for ACF, to talk about where the plugin is headed and how AI is changing the way WordPress sites are built. Iain breaks down what ACF 6.8 is laying the groundwork for, including the WordPress Abilities API, MCP, AI agents, and structured data with JSON-LD. He also explains how ACF can give AI tools a deeper understanding of a site's content model — potentially letting an agent create post types, taxonomies, field groups, and even populate content. But the bigger story may be what ACF isn't doing. Rather than bolting a chatbot onto the plugin just because “AI” is hot, the team is looking at specific developer workflows where AI can eliminate tedious work. One example: suggesting the fields you probably need when creating a new field group, getting you from a blank screen to something useful much faster. We also talk about the challenge of supporting ACF's massive existing user base while WordPress continues moving toward the block editor, why ACF Blocks 3 is important, and how the team is balancing innovation with backwards compatibility. If you're an agency, freelancer, or WordPress developer who relies on ACF, this is a look at where one of WordPress's most important developer tools is heading next. Takeaways: ACF is evolving for the AI era.ACF 6.8 lets AI tools interact with WordPress content.MCP could make managing WordPress sites with AI much easier.ACF is making structured content more useful to AI and search engines.ACF Blocks 3 gives developers more control over editing.ACF’s AI features will be opt-in and focused on real workflows.AI could make creating custom fields much faster.ACF still needs to support millions of existing sites.User feedback continues to shape the ACF roadmap.Important Links: Pillar Sponsor / ACF Owner: WP EngineIain Poulson on X: @polevaultwebACF (Advanced Custom Fields) on X: @wp_acfACF User Survey: ACF Annual Survey  ★ Support this podcast ★

  2. 2 days ago

    Let’s Debunk the WooCommerce Scaling Myth

    Thanks Pressable for supporting the show! Get your special hosting deal at https://pressable.com/wpminuteBecome a WP Minute Supporter & Slack member at https://thewpminute.com/support There’s a narrative surrounding WooCommerce that it can’t scale as well as proprietary eCommerce platforms like Shopify. This episode of The WP Minute+ podcast aims to debunk that notion. Urumi AI CEO and co-founder Vedanshu Jain joined Eric to discuss the challenges and best practices for using Woo at scale. And it’s no surprise that AI has a role to play in keeping online stores running at peak performance. Vendanshu also fills us in on his experience as a technical lead at WooCommerce and his transition to Urumi. The conversation also looks at the importance of open-source solutions within the eCommerce landscape. Takeaways: WooCommerce can scale beyond perceived limits.Technical challenges in WooCommerce can be overcome with proper infrastructure.AI can significantly enhance performance and scaling.Caching is crucial for handling WooCommerce traffic.Bot traffic can be managed effectively with the right strategies.Urumi AI automates updates and maintenance for WooCommerce sites.Open-source platforms have advantages over closed systems.Dynamic scaling can reduce costs for eCommerce businesses.AI can identify and fix slow requests automatically.The future of eCommerce will heavily involve AI technologies.Important Links: Urumi AIConnect with Vedanshu: LinkedIn The WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe  ★ Support this podcast ★

  3. 7 Sept

    The Agency Model Isn’t Dead. It’s Evolving.

    Thanks Pressable for supporting the show! Get your special hosting deal at https://pressable.com/wpminuteBecome a WP Minute Supporter & Slack member at https://thewpminute.com/support Are agencies still relevant in the age of AI? On this episode of The WP Minute+ podcast, Matt Medeiros and Cory Miller unpack the tension between AI, WordPress, and the future of agency work. They discuss why agencies still matter, how AI is changing client expectations, and how Hosting.com’s new agency partnership network aims to connect customers with trusted providers. From care plans to vertical specialization to the risk of losing curiosity in the AI era, this conversation explores what it means to be a technologist right now. Editor’s note: Hosting.com is a pillar sponsor of The WP Minute. Takeaways: AI is changing the sales process, but it has not eliminated the need for expertise.Agencies win by becoming guides, not just vendors.Industry specialization matters more as clients expect proof, not just promises.Care plans and ongoing support still have a strong role in the agency model.The best use of AI is to augment human judgment, not replace it.Hosting.com’s agency network is built to create referrals and relationships, not exclusivity.Important links: Hosting.comHosting.com’s Agency Partnership Application Connect with Cory: LinkedIn | Twitter/XThe WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe  ★ Support this podcast ★

  4. 31 Aug

    CMS Conf Takes You Outside the WordPress Bubble

    Thanks Pressable for supporting the show! Get your special hosting deal at https://pressable.com/wpminuteBecome a WP Minute Supporter & Slack member at https://thewpminute.com/support Are you stuck inside the WordPress bubble? In this episode of The WP Minute+ podcast, Eric talks with Maciek Palmowski, organizer of CMS Conf, about why CMS communities benefit from looking outside their own ecosystem. Maciek explains how working at Kinsta and expanding into application hosting helped push him to explore other platforms, conferences, and communities. They also discuss what CMS Conf aims to create in Gdynia, Poland: a space where WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, and newer API-first systems can learn from one another. The event takes place from November 12-14, 2026. Takeaways Maciek became a “CMS tourist” after working at Kinsta and seeing the value of exploring beyond WordPress.CMS Conf is designed to bring together people from multiple CMS communities, including WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, and newer platforms.WordPress’s real strength is often the ecosystem around it: community, events, and shared culture.Systems like Astro and Statamic show how different CMS approaches can create better out-of-the-box experiences.The goal of CMS Conf is to help attendees break out of their bubble, stay curious, and learn from other communities.Important links CMS Conf website (Click here for a 25% ticket discount)Why I'm Organizing CMS ConfConnect with Maciek: LinkedIn | Twitter/XThe WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe  ★ Support this podcast ★

  5. 24 Aug

    What’s New With Woo? (July 2026 Member Meetup)

    Thanks Pressable for supporting the show! Get your special hosting deal at https://pressable.com/wpminuteBecome a WP Minute Supporter & Slack member at https://thewpminute.com/support Our July 2026 WP Minute Member Meetup was dedicated to all things WooCommerce. Developer Advocate Brian Coords joined us to demonstrate a variety of new and experimental features. He also shared Woo’s plan to address the existing backlog of bugs and other issues. The goal is to produce a stable eCommerce platform that also meets modern demands. We also looked at AI’s role in Woo and WordPress. Brian provided insight on the future of agentic commerce, store management features, and customer interactions. Takeaways: WooCommerce is focusing on cleaning up backlog issues to improve user experience.AI submissions in open source can be both beneficial and challenging.The goal is to reduce the number of open issues significantly.User experience is crucial for retaining customers in WooCommerce.WooCommerce aims to improve UI consistency across its extensions.Block themes are being developed to enhance the WooCommerce experience.AI integration is being explored for better store management and analytics.The future of e-commerce may involve AI-driven purchasing experiences.Important Links: Woo Developer BlogWooCommerce is the foundation of our entire ecosystemWooCommerce 11.0: What’s coming for developersUnifying extension settings in WooCommerceThe WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★

  6. 17 Aug

    Why Real-Time WordPress Is the Future

    Thanks Pressable for supporting the show! Get your special hosting deal at https://pressable.com/wpminuteBecome a WP Minute Supporter & Slack member at https://thewpminute.com/support On this episode of The WP Minute+ podcast, Matt is joined by Jared Rethman, creator of WPSignal, a tool that adds real-time infrastructure to WordPress. It started as an idea for powering Google Docs-style collaborative editing. But Jared shares how this technology can transform WordPress development and what it means for the platform's evolution. He also reflects on the diminishing importance of technical hurdles for future developers and the opportunities for those willing to push boundaries. Key Takeaways: Real-time infrastructure turns WordPress into a live, interactive app instead of a static site.Infrastructure is the real moat, not just the feature set.WordPress keeps evolving because its architecture is flexible and API-driven.AI speeds up building, but it also compresses the traditional learning curve.WordPress’s future depends on adaptability more than a fixed identity.Hype around AI can distract from the core technical skills that still matter.Reliable infrastructure will separate real solutions from flashy ideas.Important Links: WPSignalWorldHouseConnect with Jared: LinkedInThe WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★

  7. 10 Aug

    Building Smarter Hosting for the AI Era

    Thanks Pressable for supporting the show! Get your special hosting deal at https://pressable.com/wpminuteBecome a WP Minute Supporter & Slack member at https://thewpminute.com/support The web hosting industry is changing rapidly. On this episode of The WP Minute+ podcast, Matt is joined by ScalaHosting CTO Vlad Georgiev. Vlad shares thoughts on the evolving role of hosting companies, the implications of AI in software development, and the significance of maintaining a solid grasp of programming fundamentals. You’ll learn why the company’s SPanel is key to their strategy. There’s also plenty of talk about the future of WordPress and open-source.  Editor’s Note: ScalaHosting is a Foundation+ of The WP Minute. Takeaways: Relying on AI too heavily can create a knowledge gap, especially in development and security.Open-source AI models are likely to become important infrastructure as commercial AI gets more expensive, creating new opportunities for hosting companies.Faster performance comes from smart hardware choices, not just packing in more cores.Security should be treated as a core foundation of modern hosting and WordPress.Community-driven product development helps ensure tools evolve based on real user needs.Long-term wins come from investing in quality infrastructure and optimized stacks rather than chasing short-term cost cuts.WordPress remains well positioned for AI integration because of its maturity, flexibility, and ecosystem.Important Links: ScalaHostingSPanelThe WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★

  8. 3 Aug

    Don’t Use AI? You Might Not Get the Job.

    Thanks Pressable for supporting the show! Get your special hosting deal at https://pressable.com/wpminuteBecome a WP Minute Supporter & Slack member at https://thewpminute.com/support This is a tough time to find development work, and Eric’s guest on The WP Minute+ podcast knows it all too well. Andrew Norcross is a seasoned developer, having run his own agency and led NASA’s transition to WordPress. These days, he’s looking for work. He doesn’t use AI, and at least one potential employer has turned him down because of it. Is that fair? Eric and Andrew take a hard look at the job market for web professionals. You’ll find insights into what AI can and can’t do, the craft of coding, and the importance of critical thinking. They also examine how corporate culture often prioritizes speed over quality. It’s a much-needed discussion that impacts all of us. Takeaways: The job market for web professionals is changing rapidly.AI is complicating the job search for developers.Andrew's journey into WordPress was accidental but transformative.Developers need to maintain critical thinking skills despite AI’s assistance.Job interviews are increasingly focused on AI usage.The balance between using AI and preserving coding craftsmanship is crucial.Understanding client needs is a key part of development work.The coding profession requires problem-solving and creativity.Some developers now prioritize paychecks over passion for coding.The WordPress plugin ecosystem is facing saturation and declining sales.The future of work in tech is unpredictable and challenging.Developers are navigating a complex landscape of opportunities and risks.Important Links: Connect with Andrew: GitHub | LinkedIn | WebsiteFlashback: Read the outline of Andrew’s WordCamp Philadelphia 2011 presentationThe WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★

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About

For long-form interviews, news, and commentary about the WordPress ecosystem. This is the companion show to The WP Minute, your favorite 5-minutes of WordPress news every week.

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Medeiros
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    172
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023 The WP Minute
  • Show Website
    The WP Minute+

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