How to Build Custom AI Tools Using WordPress in 3 Easy Steps

First, let me assure you that creating custom AI tools using WordPress is not as daunting as it might seem. With the right tools and a bit of patience, you can have your AI tool up and running in as little as five minutes. Let’s dive right in. 

Understanding the basics of AI and its application in WordPress

Before we dive right into the process of creating AI tools with WordPress, it’s important to understand what we’re dealing with. AI, or Artificial Intelligence, has become something of a buzzword these days, but many people are still unclear about what it really is. In essence, AI involves machines that can simulate human intelligence processes, like learning, reasoning, and self-correction. 

But how does this relate to WordPress? Well, WordPress is a powerful platform that offers a plethora of opportunities to integrate AI. By incorporating AI tools, you can optimize your website to provide a more personalized and efficient user experience. Let’s delve into some of its potential applications: 

• Chatbots: AI chatbots can provide 24/7 customer service, cater to customer inquiries, and provide immediate responses, enhancing user engagement.
• Content Recommendation: AI can analyze user behavior and preferences to recommend tailored content, thereby boosting user engagement and retention.
• SEO Optimization: AI tools can help optimize your website’s search engine ranking by analyzing patterns and suggesting improvements.

Now that we’ve laid out the basics, you’re in a better position to grasp how you can leverage AI tools when using WordPress. So let’s get started!

Why Create Online Custom AI Tools Using WordPress?

In this era of relentless innovation and automation, online tools have evolved beyond mere trends. They’ve become invaluable assets that amplify a website’s worth, functionality, and allure. Here’s why you should seriously contemplate crafting and integrating an online tool into your WordPress site: 

1. Boost Your Site’s Popularity:

• Boosting Engagement: There’s something special about AI-powered online tools that captivates users. By incorporating them into your WordPress site, you can keep your visitors hooked and increase their dwell time.
• Enhancing SEO: With the addition of unique and interactive content, your website could rise in the search engine rankings. This would drive a higher volume of organic traffic to your site.
• Increasing Shareability: A value-driven AI tool can be a game-changer. If your visitors find it beneficial, they are more likely to share it on their social media channels, magnifying your reach exponentially.

2. Attracting Your Audience: The Power of Lead Magnets:

• Harvest Valuable Data: AI tools that require user interaction or sign-up are not just for user convenience. They also serve as a goldmine for capturing essential information like email addresses. This data can be invaluable for your marketing strategy.
• Achieve Effective Segmentation: By closely monitoring the usage patterns of your AI tools, you can gain a deeper understanding of your visitors. This insight allows you to strategically segment your audience, resulting in a more personalized and effective marketing approach.
• Establish Trust and Loyalty: Providing a beneficial AI tool either for free or as a trial can work wonders in building a strong relationship with your visitors. It fosters trust and loyalty, facilitating the transformation of casual visitors into long-term clients or subscribers.

3. Monetize your Tools:

• Embrace Subscription Models: Imagine the possibilities! With AI tools, you can create layers of access to premium features, tailoring unique subscription models to cater to a diverse range of user needs.
• Unlock Ad Revenue: Here’s a golden ticket – if your tool garners a significant user base, it paves the way for you to tap into a potential goldmine of ad revenue through targeted advertisements. It’s like having your cake and eating it too!
• Foster B2B Partnerships: Here’s something to ponder – your AI tool could turn heads in the business world, attracting corporate clients keen on white-label solutions or collaborations. It’s a chance to forge valuable partnerships and expand your network.

How to integrate your AI tool into your WordPress site

Embarking on the journey to build AI tools on WordPress is as thrilling as it is innovative. It’s a simple three-step process that I’m going to guide you through. Allow me to share with you this insightful roadmap to build your AI tool:

1. Setting Up Your WordPress Page

Let’s kick things off by crafting a fresh new page on your WordPress site, which will serve as the home for your shiny AI tool. This page will act as the interactive playground where your users can engage with the tool.

2. Adding HTML Code to the page:

This will be the foundation of our tool page, serving as the initial point of contact with the OpenAI API. It’s like shaking hands with AI for the first time – exciting, isn’t it?

3. Implement a WordPress Function:

Crafting a unique WordPress function. This function is special. It seamlessly takes in user input from your HTML form and sends it straight to OpenAI’s API. Think of it as a digital bridge, connecting your website to OpenAI and enabling them to chat away. Fascinating, isn’t it?

4. Connecting to OpenAI API:

Imagine this – you’re using WordPress to effortlessly connect with OpenAI’s API. The result? Your site can now generate text based on user prompts. It’s like having a personal AI assistant working 24/7 on your website. Incredible, isn’t it?

Obtain an OpenAI API Key:

Ready to explore the world of OpenAI’s models? First things first, you’ll need to secure an API access key. Don’t worry, I’m here to guide you through each step:

• Go to OpenAI’s API page and click on the “Signup” button.
• Next, you’ll see a page to create a new account. Make sure to verify your email to round off the signup process smoothly. This step is very important,  don’t skip it!
• Once you’ve successfully logged in, your API keys are conveniently located under the account dashboard. This is your gateway to integrating AI tools into your WordPress site.

Step-by-step guide to creating Custom AI tool using WordPress

Step 1: Add The API Call Function

Now, let’s get our AI tool talking with the OpenAI API. How do we do that? We’re going to employ the magic of a PHP function. To make this happen, we’ll need a Code Snippet Plugins. I recommend WPCode Snippet

What is the WPCode Snippet Plugin?

WPCode – This plugin is a game-changer, offering a neat and effortless way to execute PHP code snippets directly on your site. Say goodbye to the cumbersome task of inserting custom snippets into your theme’s functions.php

Installing and Activating the WPCode Snippets Plugin

1. From your WordPress dashboard, go to ‘Plugins > Add New’.
2. In the search bar, type ‘WPCode‘
3. Find the plugin in the search results and click ‘Install Now’, then ‘Activate’. You can learn more on their Youtube Channel

Adding the OpenAI API Call

Once you’ve activated the plugin, follow these steps to add your API call:

1. From your WordPress dashboard, navigate to ‘Code Snippets> Add New’.
2. In the ‘Title’ field, give your new snippet a name, like “OpenAI API Call”.
3. Set The Code Type To PHP
4. In the ‘Code’ text box, you’ll enter your PHP code. Below is an example of how you could structure this code:

function openai_generate_text() {
    // Get the topic from the AJAX request
    $prompt = $_POST['prompt'];

    // OpenAI API URL and key
    $api_url = 'https://api.openai.com/v1/chat/completions';
    $api_key = 'sk-XXX';  // Replace with your actual OpenAI API key

    // Headers for the OpenAI API
    $headers = [
        'Content-Type' => 'application/json',
        'Authorization' => 'Bearer ' . $api_key
    ];

    // Body for the OpenAI API
    $body = [
        'model' => 'gpt-3.5-turbo',
        'messages' => [['role' => 'user', 'content' => $prompt]],
        'temperature' => 0.7
    ];

    // Args for the WordPress HTTP API
    $args = [
        'method' => 'POST',
        'headers' => $headers,
        'body' => json_encode($body),
        'timeout' => 120
    ];

    // Send the request
    $response = wp_remote_request($api_url, $args);

    // Handle the response
    if (is_wp_error($response)) {
        $error_message = $response->get_error_message();
        wp_send_json_error("Something went wrong: $error_message");
    } else {
        $body = wp_remote_retrieve_body($response);
        $data = json_decode($body, true);

        if (json_last_error() !== JSON_ERROR_NONE) {
            wp_send_json_error('Invalid JSON in API response');
        } elseif (!isset($data['choices'])) {
            wp_send_json_error('API request failed. Response: ' . $body);
        } else {
            wp_send_json_success($data);
        }
    }

    // Always die in functions echoing AJAX content
   wp_die();
}

add_action('wp_ajax_openai_generate_text', 'openai_generate_text');
add_action('wp_ajax_nopriv_openai_generate_text', 'openai_generate_text');

What we’re looking at ABOVE is a PHP function that goes by the name openai_generate_text. Now, when you make a request to WordPress, and the action happens to be openai_generate_text,

Imagine a function that interacts seamlessly with OpenAI’s API, producing text based on a prompt that you, as the user, provide. It’s quite a fascinating concept, isn’t it? 

The magic begins when the function fetches the user-provided prompt from the POST request:

$prompt = $_POST[‘prompt’];

The final two lines of our code are VERY IMPORTANT! They link our function to the wp_ajax_openai_generate_text and wp_ajax_nopriv_openai_generate_text actions. This ensures that our function springs into action whenever WordPress receives a request bearing the

openai_generate_text

Save and Publish The Code Snippet

Next, you’re going to want to ensure this script is set to run universally. Once that’s done, go ahead and hit ‘publish’. 

Step 2: Create The Tool Page

With our API function in place, it’s time to design our new page on our WordPress site for the AI tool. 

We’re going to be using the powerful page builder called “Elementor”, a well-loved WordPress page builder, to craft this page. 

Remember: Feel free to use any builder that suits your fancy. The most important aspect is the capacity to introduce custom HTML code into the page.

Installing and Activating Elementor

1. From your WordPress dashboard, go to ‘Plugins > Add New’.
2. In the search bar, type ‘Elementor‘.
3. Find the plugin in the search results and click ‘Install Now’, then ‘Activate’.

Creating a New Page with Elementor

1. Navigate to ‘Pages > Add New’ from your WordPress dashboard.
2. Enter a title for your page, such as “AI Tool For…”.
3. Click on ‘Edit with Elementor‘ to start designing your page.

Adding Custom HTML in Elementor

To add custom HTML in Elementor, you need to drag and drop the HTML Code widget into your page. Follow these steps:

1. On the Elementor editor page, you’ll see a sidebar on the left with several icons. Click on the one that looks like a grid or matrix.
2. This will open up a list of widgets that you can use. Search for the ‘HTML’ widget

At this point, you get to infuse your website with the power of AI by inserting your unique HTML code. In our journey today, this will encompass code for an input field, a button, and a designated text area for showcasing the results. Yes, it’s as exciting as it sounds!

Basic example:

<div>
    <input type="text" id="userInput" placeholder="Type something here...">
    <button id="submitButton">Submit</button>
    <textarea id="resultArea"></textarea>
</div>

Let me simplify things for you. I’ve put together the complete HTML, JS, and CSS code, so all you need to do is copy and paste. Ready? Here we go:

<div id="text-generation-tool">
    <input type="text" id="topic" placeholder="Your Topic...">
    <button id="generate-button">Generate Story!</button>
    <div id="result-container" style="display: none;">
        <div class="result-wrapper">
            <div class="result-content">
                <textarea id="result" readonly></textarea>
            </div>
            <div class="copy-button-container">
                <button id="copy-button">Copy</button>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
    <div id="loading" class="loader" style="display: none;"></div>
</div>

<style>
    /* Basic styles for the text generation tool */
    #text-generation-tool {
        width: 100%;
        max-width: 600px;
        margin: 0 auto;
        font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
    }

    #topic {
        width: 100%;
        padding: 15px;
        margin-bottom: 20px;
        font-size: 16px;
        border-radius: 5px;
        border: 1px solid #ddd;
    }

    #generate-button {
        display: block;
        width: 100%;
        padding: 15px;
        margin-bottom: 20px;
        font-size: 16px;
        border: none;
        border-radius: 5px;
        color: #fff;
        background-color: #3498db;
        cursor: pointer;
        transition: background-color 0.3s ease;
    }

    #generate-button:hover {
        background-color: #2980b9;
    }

    #result-container {
        display: none;
        margin-bottom: 20px;
    }

    .result-wrapper {
        position: relative;
        overflow: hidden;
    }

    .result-content {
        display: flex;
    }

    #result {
        flex: 1;
        height: 400px;
        padding: 15px;
        font-size: 16px;
        border-radius: 5px;
        border: 1px solid #ddd;
        background-color: #f9f9f9;
    }

    .copy-button-container {
        margin-top: 10px;
        text-align: right;
    }

    #copy-button {
        padding: 8px 12px;
        font-size: 14px;
        border: none;
        border-radius: 5px;
        color: #fff;
        background-color: #3498db;
        cursor: pointer;
        transition: background-color 0.3s ease;
    }

    #copy-button:hover {
        background-color: #2980b9;
    }

    /* CSS for the loader */
    .loader {
        display: block;
        margin: 50px auto;
        border: 16px solid #f3f3f3; /* Light grey */
        border-top: 16px solid #3498db; /* Blue */
        border-radius: 50%;
        width: 50px;
        height: 50px;
        animation: spin 1s linear infinite;
    }

    @keyframes spin {
        0% { transform: rotate(0deg); }
        100% { transform: rotate(360deg); }
    }
</style>

By the way! Your can generate our own code with ChatGPT in less than 5 minutes!

Don’t hesitate to utilize the following code as a foundation for any AI tool you’re itching to develop. Let’s say you want to modify the placeholder text in the input field. In that case, all you need to do is tweak this line:

<input type="text" id="topic" placeholder="Your Topic...">

But wait, there’s more! You can also feed this code into ChatGPT and have it tailor the code to your specific needs. Let’s dive into how this looks in practice:

Prompt: “Update the input box to a dropdown list where I can select one of the following: (love, help, friendship)”

After running this prompt, here’s what ChatGPT produced:

<div id="text-generation-tool">
    <select id="topic">
        <option value="" selected disabled>Your Topic...</option>
        <option value="love">Love</option>
        <option value="help">Help</option>
        <option value="friendship">Friendship</option>
    </select>
    <button id="generate-button">Generate Story!</button>
    <div id="result-container" style="display: none;">
        <div class="result-wrapper">
            <div class="result-content">
                <textarea id="result" readonly></textarea>
            </div>
            <div class="copy-button-container">
                <button id="copy-button">Copy</button>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
    <div id="loading" class="loader" style="display: none;"></div>
</div>

Delving into the world of AI models such as ChatGPT unfolds a universe of endless possibilities. Mastering the interaction with these models isn’t just a trendy skill—it’s a future-proof investment that will keep you at the forefront of technological innovation.

This skill is commonly known as ‘prompt engineering‘, a key aspect of effective AI utilization. 

Great job! After you’ve successfully pasted your code, ensure you click ‘Update’ to secure the changes you’ve made.

Bravo! You’ve successfully crafted a page tailored for your AI tool, incorporating the crucial HTML elements. The next exciting phase on our journey involves linking this newly created page to the remarkable OpenAI API function.

Step 3: Connecting Your Page With The API Function

Alright, we’ve successfully set up our API function and our tool page, and now it’s time to bring them together. This is the stage where JavaScript

What does this JavaScript code do?

This JavaScript code attaches an event listener to the ‘Generate Story!‘ button. Upon clicking, it gathers the user’s chosen topic and sends it to our OpenAI API function using AJAX. 

During the story creation, a loading spinner is displayed. Once the story is ready, the spinner disappears and the story appears in the result textarea. 

If an error occurs, the error message is shown in the result textarea. 

An event listener is also connected to the ‘Copy’ button, which copies the generated story to the clipboard when clicked.

Adding the JavaScript Code

Here is the JavaScript code you need to add:

<script>
    document.getElementById("generate-button").addEventListener("click", function(e){
        e.preventDefault();
        
        
        var generateButton = document.getElementById("generate-button");
        
        if (generateButton.disabled) {
            return; // Prevent multiple clicks while content is being generated
        }
        
        generateButton.disabled = true;
        
        
        
        var topic = document.getElementById('topic').value;
        var prompt = "Generate a 3 sentence story about " + topic;
        var loading = document.getElementById('loading');
        var result = document.getElementById('result');
        var resultC = document.getElementById('result-container');
        
        
        loading.style.display = 'block';
        result.style.display = 'none'; // hide result textarea
        resultC.style.display = 'none';
        
        var formData = new FormData();
        formData.append('action', 'openai_generate_text');
        formData.append('prompt', prompt);
        fetch('/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php', {
            method: 'POST',
            body: formData
        })
        .then(response => response.json())
        .then(data => {
            loading.style.display = 'none';
            if(data.success) {
                result.value = data.data.choices[0].message.content; 
                result.style.display = 'block'; // show result textarea
                resultC.style.display = 'block';
                generateButton.disabled = false;
            } else {
                result.value = 'An error occurred: ' + data.data;
                result.style.display = 'block'; // show result textarea
                resultC.style.display = 'block';
                generateButton.disabled = false;
            }
        })
        .catch(error => {
            loading.style.display = 'none';
            result.value = 'An error occurred: ' + error.message;
            result.style.display = 'block'; // show result textarea
            resultC.style.display = 'block';
            generateButton.disabled = false;
            
        });
    });
    
    var copyButton = document.getElementById('copy-button');
    copyButton.addEventListener('click', function() {
        var result = document.getElementById('result');
        result.select();
        document.execCommand('copy');
        alert('Copied to clipboard!');
    });
</script>

What you should focus on here is the prompt:

var prompt = "Generate a 3 sentence story about " + topic;

I used a simple prompt for demonstration. 

Depending on your AI tool, you can create a custom prompt. For instance, for a Domain Name Generator Tool, you could use a specific prompt:

Generate a list of 10 domain name ideas for a website about [topic], and provide a brief explanation for each suggestion.

Let’s take it up a notch, shall we? If you’re aiming for that professional edge, allow me to share one of my closely-guarded premium secret Power prompts.

Let's dive right in and brainstorm ten unique and innovative domain names, each specifically tailored for the [niche] niche. Our goal here is to focus on the core concepts and target audience of the [niche], creating domain names that not only grab the attention of your audience but also encapsulate the key themes of this niche. For each domain name, I'll add a concise explanation (1-2 sentences) to underline its relevance to the [niche]. Here are the criteria I'll use to ensure each domain name is a perfect fit: 1. Brand Alignment: Each domain name must resonate with the [niche] and its central concepts. 2. Stickiness: Each domain name should be catchy, easy to remember, and use familiar spellings. 3. Brevity: Each domain name will be kept between 6-14 characters for quick typing and easy recall. 4. Cleanliness: I'll avoid using hyphens and numbers to maintain a neat appearance. 5. Keyword Usage: I'll incorporate relevant niche keywords for SEO benefits, whenever possible. 6. Speaking Ease: Each domain name will be easily pronounceable and "radio-friendly." 7. Domain Extensions: I'll prioritize .com, .net, .org, and .ai extensions, where suitable. 8. Lawfulness: I'll steer clear of any existing trademarks or brands to avoid legal issues. My objective here is to showcase flexibility and creativity while keeping a laser-focus on the [niche] niche. This serves as a robust base for building a brand within this market. [niche]:

Anyway, the idea is to replace your Prompt with whatever your goal is, and you are done!

Add this JavaScript code to your tool page:

1. Reopen your tool page in Elementor editor.
2. Again, add the ‘HTML’ widget using drag and drop.
3. Insert the JavaScript code into the ‘HTML Code’ slot.
4. Hit ‘Update’ to keep the modifications.

Or you can paste the code within the same HTML Code Box that we used before.

And voila! You’ve successfully linked your tool page with the OpenAI API function. Now, your users can seamlessly utilize the tool according to their chosen topic. Isn’t it exciting to see your AI tool come to life?

Optimizing Your Tool

After the tool is ready, it’s time for optimization, from improving the User Interface to adding security features like captcha. 

AI like ChatGPT can help with this. It can adjust the code, modify the user interface, or tweak other parts of the tool. 

For example, if you want to change the UI, you can ask ChatGPT: 

“Could you help me design a better interface for my tool?” 

ChatGPT can provide suggestions or a new HTML/CSS code based on your needs. 

Adding a captcha can help protect your tool from bots and ensure genuine user interactions. There are many online resources to add captcha to your WordPress site. 

Remember, continual optimization and updating based on user feedback makes a tool more user-friendly and successful.

on a final note

Creating AI tools with WordPress is now easier than ever, thanks to the availability various plugins and tools. With just a few simple steps, anyone can integrate AI technology into their WordPress site, and enjoy the benefits of automation and improved user experience.

By following the step-by-step guide provided in this article, readers can create their own AI tools in just 5 minutes. This means that even those with no experience in AI or coding can easily implement this technology on their websites.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are AI tools and why should I use them on my WordPress site?

AI tools are applications that use artificial intelligence to perform tasks that would otherwise require human intelligence. These tools can be used on your WordPress site to automate processes, improve user experience, and provide personalized content to your visitors. By incorporating AI tools into your site, you can save time and resources while enhancing the overall performance of your website.

What kind of AI tools can I create with WordPress?

With WordPress, you can create a variety of AI tools, including chatbots, recommendation engines, and predictive analytics, Rewrite AI Articles Tool, AtoZ Tools for SEO. Chatbots can be used to provide customer support and answer frequently asked questions. Recommendation engines can suggest products or content based on user behavior and preferences. Predictive analytics can be used to forecast trends and make data-driven decisions.

Do I need coding skills to create AI tools with WordPress?

No, you don’t need coding skills to create AI tools with WordPress. There are several plugins and tools available that allow you to easily incorporate AI technology into your site without any coding knowledge. However, having some basic understanding of coding can be helpful in customizing and optimizing your AI tools.

Are there any risks associated with using AI tools on my WordPress site?

While AI tools can provide numerous benefits, there are also some risks to consider. These include potential errors in data analysis, privacy concerns, and ethical considerations. It’s important to thoroughly research and test any AI tools before implementing them on your site, and to ensure that they comply with relevant regulations and guidelines.