WordPress 7.0 landed this week, bringing a rebuilt admin dashboard, native AI connectivity, and a raft of editor improvements. It’s the most significant update since the block editor arrived in 2018.
If your website runs on WordPress, here’s what’s changed and what you need to know.
A bit of context
WordPress development follows a four-phase roadmap called the Gutenberg project. Version 7.0 opens Phase 3, which is focused on collaboration and workflow tools. The features here are foundations rather than finished products, setting the stage for team-based publishing and AI-assisted workflows over the next few years.
It also arrives after a turbulent period. A public legal dispute between Automattic (the company behind WordPress) and hosting provider WP Engine disrupted development throughout 2024 and into 2025, with the community choosing to prioritise stability over speed – something clearly evident in this release.
What’s new
Built-in AI connectivity: WordPress 7.0 doesn’t include a built-in AI writing tool at this time, but it does introduce a standardised AI layer called the WP AI Client and Abilities API. Previously, every AI plugin maintained its own separate connection to services like OpenAI or Google Gemini, with its own API keys and security considerations. Now there’s one shared system, accessible via a new Settings > Connectors screen in your dashboard. For most clients this won’t change anything immediately, but over the coming months AI-powered plugins should become simpler and more consistent to manage.
A refreshed admin dashboard: The admin area hasn’t had a meaningful visual update since 2013. The new dashboard is driven by a system called DataViews, replacing the old static list tables with dynamic, filterable views. Your Posts list, Media Library, and other screens now update without page reloads and feel considerably more modern. The core functions are all in the same places, so there’s no steep learning curve.
Editor improvements: A few worthwhile additions to the block editor: you can now show or hide blocks per device type (mobile, tablet, desktop) without a plugin; the revision history screen has been replaced with a much clearer colour-coded visual comparison; and two new blocks, Breadcrumbs and Icons, are now part of WordPress core, removing the need for separate plugins.
Performance: Block rendering is faster, and media processing has been moved client-side in certain cases. Not changes you’ll notice at a glance, but they add up.
What didn’t make it
Real-time collaboration, which would allow multiple people to edit the same page simultaneously, was pulled from the release on 8 May after performance issues in testing proved too time-consuming to fix late in the cycle. It’s still in development and is now unlikely to arrive before 2027.
Should you update?
Yes, with a little preparation. Before updating, make sure you have a full backup, check that your key plugins are compatible with 7.0, and confirm your hosting environment is running PHP 8.1 or higher (8.3 is recommended). For business-critical sites, testing on a staging copy first is always sensible.
If you have an SLA with Ballyhoo or are on our WordPress Management plan, you don’t need to worry about any of this. We handle major updates as part of your agreement, including compatibility testing, a staged rollout, and monitoring afterwards. If you’re not currently on a plan and would like to be, or if you’d just like us to handle this update for you as a one-off, just get in touch and we’ll sort it.
Questions about your WordPress website? Get in touch with the Ballyhoo team.
