In the race to forecast the fate of software, pundits are overlooking the operating system. People won't become app builders in the traditional sense, the software will simply appear. Users will create and customize apps for their company, their families, and for themselves based on their needs. 

Or not, because who the hell can predict any of this stuff. Here are my thoughts, anyway. 

My side bet with Justin https://bsky.app/profile/justinjackson.ca/post/3mhjgd65f6k2j
Jason's thread https://x.com/jasonfried/status/2035074613773050266?s=20

In this episode, I’m sharing something new we’ve launched at The WP Minute: a free course called Hire Smart & Scope Right: How to Plan Your Next Website Project Built on WordPress

The course is designed to help businesses make better decisions before starting a WordPress project. It’s not about which plugins or themes to use. It’s about the fundamentals—planning, communication, budgeting, and understanding what success actually looks like for a website.

If you run a WordPress agency or freelance business, you might find this especially useful to share with prospects. It walks potential clients through the kinds of questions they should be asking before hiring someone to build their site.

I created this alongside Eric Karkovack, and it pairs nicely with our other free course on choosing the right WordPress hosting. Together, they’re part of our effort at The WP Minute to help people have a better experience with WordPress through education.

Both courses are free thanks to our pillar sponsors, and you’ll get a certificate when you finish.

If you take the course, I’d love to hear your feedback.

Links

Hire Smart & Scope Right: How to Plan Your Next Website Project Built on WordPress
https://thewpminute.com/courses

Matt kicks off 2026 with thoughts on new WP Minute initiatives, WordPress opportunities in the AI era, and where he sees the biggest potential for agencies and freelancers this year.

Free Course Launch: Pricing & Scoping WordPress Projects

• Taught by Eric Kovac (30 years in web development)
• Covers project requirements, agency selection, and client communication
• Useful for freelancers learning to scope projects and for clients understanding what agencies need
• Available at thewpminute.com/courses

Accountability Cohort Program

• Six-week program for freelancers and agency owners
• Group check-ins, goal-setting, and peer support
• Designed to build momentum for growing your business in 2026
• Apply at thewpminute.com/accountability-intake

WooCommerce as the Big Opportunity Matt's theory: SaaS platforms like Shopify, Webflow, and Wix may feel AI's impact first as licensing costs rise and get passed to customers. This could drive businesses toward WordPress and WooCommerce for more flexibility and control.

Rethinking the Agency Model

• Basic code, wireframing, and brainstorming increasingly assisted by AI
• Opportunity lies in becoming a strategic partner, not just a technical vendor
• Critical human thinking and industry expertise become more valuable

AI Cost Predictions Expect AI subscription costs to rise significantly—Matt predicts plans like Claude Code Max could double to $400/month or higher as companies face the real economics of frontier models.

Reality Check on AI

Despite using AI tools daily for plugins and experiments, Matt notes the technology isn't fully there yet. His example: Claude built a landing page but put "2024" in the footer—a small error that raises questions about reliability on more complex tasks.

Links

• Courses: thewpminute.com/courses
• Newsletter: thewpminute.com/subscribe
• Accountability Program: thewpminute.com/accountability-intake

Someone said they were leaving WordPress for AI. Others said there's a WordPress bubble. Now I'm jumping in with comments. Enjoy! 

00:00 Introduction and Context

00:54 Debating WordPress's Versatility

02:50 WordPress in the Agency World

05:43 AI and WordPress: A Complex Relationship

10:30 The Essence of Open Source

13:50 Continuity and Client Assurance

19:17 AI's Limitations and Future

21:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Matt discusses the concept of WordPress longevity, touching on his personal journey, the friendships he's made, and how he navigates imposter syndrome within the community. He reflects on the importance of creating sustainable content and the evolution of his projects, all while contemplating the future of WordPress and its community. 

Read the full post here: https://thewpminute.com/state-of-the-word-2025-its-a-vibe/

Join me as I reflect on 18 years of dedication to WordPress Media, the WP Minute's professional journey, and the challenges faced from industry practices like purchased YouTube views. Learn about our omnichannel approach, spotlighting successes with team members like Eric and Toby, and the importance of genuine content creation. Discover how we've built a thriving community and the value of true engagement in the WordPress space.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Background
01:03 Challenges in WordPress Media
03:52 Building the WP Minute
04:59 Achievements and Team Growth
08:11 Professionalism and Sponsorship
12:47 Community Engagement and Final Thoughts

We are talking about finding meaning in AI. Also I launched a plugin called PodLoom to connect your Transistor.fm account up to WordPress.

In this episode, we dive into the evolving WordPress landscape, particularly for business owners—whether you're running an agency, freelancing, or part of a SaaS venture. Explore the shift from a tightly-knit, open community to a more business-focused, competitive environment.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflection
00:31 The Changing Dynamics of the WordPress Community
01:56 Business Focus in the WordPress Space
03:35 Economic and Legal Influences
04:27 Technological Shifts and AI Impact
05:22 Sustaining Long-Term Success
05:55 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

We’ve launched our first course at The WP Minute WordPress Hosting Decoded. It’s a free, professional guide that helps freelancers and agency owners make smarter decisions about the hosting platforms they choose for their client projects.

This course has been years in the making. It’s built for anyone who works with WordPress, from newcomers trying to understand hosting basics to agency teams that want to level up their technical awareness and client communication. The goal is to help you avoid common pitfalls, make better strategic choices, and deliver more reliable sites for your clients.

Alongside the course, we’ve included a WordPress Hosting Calculator to help you evaluate client requirements and choose the right hosting tier. It’s not about promoting specific providers. It’s about empowering better decisions that improve your clients’ long-term experience with WordPress.

Key Takeaways

• WordPress Hosting Decoded is a free professional course for freelancers and agencies.
• Includes a hosting calculator to match client needs with hosting types.
• Perfect for onboarding or training project managers, sales staff, or new team members.
• Focused on education and strategy, not product promotion.

Important Links

• WordPress Hosting Decoded Course
• Agency Action Podcast
• Vote for The WP Minute at the WP Weekly Awards