Before we touch any WordPress AI tools, make sure you have access to everything you’ll need this month. This is 10 minutes of setup that saves you from hitting walls later.
What you need
Access checklist
| Need | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AI assistant account | Required | Claude Pro/Team is used in examples; ChatGPT Plus, Gemini Advanced, Cursor, or another MCP-capable assistant can work. |
| WordPress site | Required | Use WordPress.com, Pressable, self-hosted WordPress, Studio CLI, or Playground depending on the exercise. |
| WordPress.com account | Recommended | Needed for the easiest MCP path and for Studio preview/auth flows. |
| Node.js 18+ | Required for Studio CLI | Studio CLI and many local development workflows need Node available in Terminal. |
| Production write access | Optional | Use drafts and test sites first. You do not need production access to learn the workflows. |
1. A paid AI account
Go to claude.ai/upgrade and pick Pro ($20/month). The free tier has daily message limits that will stop you mid-exercise — especially once you start building with MCP and Studio Code.
We write instructions for Claude because that’s what we use, but the exercises are tool-agnostic. ChatGPT Plus, Gemini Advanced, or Cursor Pro all work. The WordPress-specific tools (MCP, Abilities API) support multiple AI providers.
Already on a company plan? If your organization provides Claude through Claude for Work, Team, or Enterprise, you don’t need to upgrade — just make sure you’re signed in with your work email. Team and Enterprise plans also have stronger data privacy guarantees, which matters when you’re working with editorial content.
2. WordPress dashboard access
Confirm you can log into your WordPress AI plugin dashboard. You’ll need this for WordPress AI plugin features starting Day 5. If you don’t have access, check the plugin’s GitHub page — they can set you up in minutes.
3. A WordPress.com account
Make sure you have an account at wordpress.com. Studio CLI and the WordPress MCP connector both use WordPress.com for authentication. If you already have a Gravatar or Jetpack account, that’s the same login.
4. Node.js (for Studio CLI)
Open Terminal (Mac) or Command Prompt (Windows) and run:
node --versionIf you see a version number (like v20.x.x), you’re good. If you get an error, go to nodejs.org and install the LTS version. Or — and this is a preview of a skill you’ll use throughout this program — open claude.ai, take a screenshot of the error, paste it in, and say: “I need to install Node.js. What am I looking at and what should I do?”
5. Bookmark these for the month
- playground.wordpress.net — WordPress Playground (Day 1)
- telex.automattic.ai — Telex block/theme builder (Day 3)
- claude.ai/download — Claude desktop app (Day 4)
- developer.wordpress.com/docs/mcp — MCP setup guide (Day 4)
KEY TAKEAWAY
You’re set up. Tomorrow we build our first WordPress site with AI — and you won’t install a single thing to do it.