Why the cracks in WordPress are widening, and why AI-powered PHP sites are the future
For years, WordPress has been the dominant CMS, powering over 40% of the web. Freelancers, agencies, and designers have built careers on it. And yet, with each new release, the cracks are widening, and some decisions are downright infuriating.
Take WP 6.9. Something as simple and fundamental as previewing a page in the same tab has been “improved” to open in a new tab. Dozens of edits? Hundreds of posts? Multiple tabs open? Good luck keeping your workflow intact. Muscle memory, developed over decades, is now a liability.
This isn’t just a minor annoyance. It’s a symptom of a broader issue: WordPress is increasingly out of touch with the professionals who rely on it daily. Bloat, unnecessary features, and workflow-breaking changes signal a product that’s listening less and less to its most invested users.
The Shift Away from WordPress
Until a couple of years ago, nearly every site I built relied on WordPress. Now, about half are simple, PHP-driven sites. For projects that don’t require blogging, WordPress is overkill. It’s slow, heavy, and unpredictable. PHP-based sites are faster, cleaner, and don’t demand endless workarounds just to stay sane.
The writing is on the wall: WordPress is no longer the default for power users. Its market share may remain high, but its influence over professional workflows is eroding.
AI-Enabled PHP Sites Are Coming
Here’s where things get exciting. AI is poised to change the game. Soon, simple PHP sites can handle tasks that once made WordPress indispensable:
- automated pagination for hundreds of posts
- dynamic templating and routing
- media management
- content organization
Imagine a CMS that is lightweight, smart, and respects your workflow. No bloat, no surprise behavior, no endless tabs. With AI, this isn’t just a dream. It’s coming, likely sooner than many expect.
Preparing for the Future
If you’re still on WordPress, take precautions:
- Backup everything
All-in-One WP Migration is a lifesaver. - Host locally
LocalWP or similar tools let you test, develop, and eventually migrate without risk.
By planning ahead, you can transition seamlessly to the next generation of CMSs, fully leveraging AI and PHP’s simplicity.
The Bottom Line
WordPress built a legacy. It empowered millions. But legacy alone does not excuse workflow-breaking decisions, bloat, or disregard for users. Power users deserve tools that respect their time, workflow, and intelligence.
The cracks are visible. The solutions are coming. And when the next generation of AI-enabled PHP sites arrives, it will give designers and freelancers the freedom and control WordPress no longer guarantees.
Looking Ahead
History often favors those who notice patterns before they become obvious. While WordPress still dominates today, the seeds of change are already visible. AI-enabled, PHP-driven CMSs are on the horizon, and when they arrive, they will validate the insights of anyone paying attention. In time, we’ll look back at today’s frustrations and recognize them as the early signals of a smarter, faster, and more respectful web.