AnswerReady AI is an open-source WordPress plugin that helps editors check drafts for classic SEO, AI search readiness, and human editorial quality.
AnswerReady AI adds a Gutenberg editor sidebar panel while you edit a post. It runs rule-based checks in the browser and shows:
- SEO score and checklist
- AI Readiness score and checklist
- Human Signal score and checklist
- Overall publishing score
- Top fixes for the highest-impact failed checks
When an OpenAI API key is configured, editors can optionally run AI Review for a structured editorial assessment and suggested TL;DR, FAQs, and “Why this matters” content.
- SEO checklist
- AI Readiness checklist
- Human Signal checklist
- Overall publishing score
- Top fixes
- Collapsible checklist sections
- Configurable settings (enable/disable sections, minimum recommended score)
- Minimum recommended score setting
- OpenAI-powered AI Review (can be disabled in settings)
- API cost safeguards (confirmation, content-hash cache, reuse saved reviews)
- Cached AI reviews in browser localStorage
- Copy / insert AI suggestions into the draft
- Missing API key handling
- No AI-detection claims
- Editors and journalists
- Publishers and B2B content teams
- SEO strategists working in WordPress
- Bloggers using the block editor
- Developers and portfolio reviewers evaluating a Gutenberg + REST + settings integration
Manual / local install:
- Download or clone the repository.
- Copy the
answerready-aifolder intowp-content/plugins/. - Activate AnswerReady AI in Plugins.
- Open a post in the block editor (Gutenberg).
Requirements:
- WordPress with the block editor
- PHP version compatible with your WordPress install
- OpenAI API key only if you use Run AI Review
Go to Settings → AnswerReady AI:
| Setting | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Enable SEO checks | Show or hide the SEO checklist and score |
| Enable AI Readiness checks | Show or hide the AI Readiness checklist and score |
| Enable Human Signal checks | Show or hide the Human Signal checklist and score |
| Minimum recommended score | Publishing-readiness benchmark (default: 75) |
| Enable AI Review | Turn API-powered AI Review on or off in the editor (default: on) |
| OpenAI API key | Required for AI Review when enabled (server-side only) |
| AI model | OpenAI model ID for AI Review (default: gpt-4o-mini) |
Rule-based checks work without an API key. You do not need OpenAI configured to use scores, top fixes, or collapsible checklists.
Beta testing tip: Site owners can disable AI Review in settings to prevent editors and testers from using the site’s API key. Testers who need AI Review should use their own OpenAI API key on a site they control.
- Edit a draft in the block editor.
- Open the AnswerReady AI document sidebar panel.
- Review scores, the recommendation, and Top fixes.
- Expand checklist cards to see individual checks.
- Optionally run AI Review if it is enabled in settings and an API key is saved.
- Rule-based checks run automatically as you edit—no API key required.
- AI Review is optional. It must be enabled under Settings → AnswerReady AI and requires a saved OpenAI API key.
- Site owners can disable AI Review during beta testing to avoid accidental API usage on a shared install.
- AI Review sends the current draft title, excerpt, and content to OpenAI through your WordPress site’s REST API.
- Cost safeguards include a confirmation prompt, content-hash caching, and options to reuse a saved review when the draft has not changed.
- Suggestions can be copied or inserted as new blocks (TL;DR, FAQ, Why this matters).
Do not use AI Review on confidential drafts unless your organization allows sending that content to OpenAI.
- Rule-based checks run in the editor without sending draft content to third parties as part of that flow.
- AI Review sends title, excerpt, and content to OpenAI using the site owner’s API key.
- The API key is stored in WordPress settings and is not exposed to browser JavaScript.
- Cached AI reviews may be stored in browser localStorage on the editor’s device.
See PRIVACY.md for more detail.
- Does not guarantee search rankings, AI Overview inclusion, or AI citations.
- Does not detect whether text was written by AI.
- Does not replace human editing, legal review, or fact-checking.
- Currently supports OpenAI only for API-powered review.
- Built for the Gutenberg / block editor (not Classic Editor–specific workflows).
Near-term:
- v0.8 — Beta testing and hardening
- v0.9 — GitHub release polish, screenshots, documentation
- v1.0 — Public open-source release
Future ideas:
- Content-type scoring modes
- Review history per post
- Exportable readiness reports
- Replace existing TL;DR / FAQ / Why this matters sections (optional)
- Bulk article audits
- Additional AI providers
Details: ROADMAP.md
Issues, feedback, and pull requests are welcome.
Please open an issue before large changes. Include reproduction steps for bugs.
AnswerReady AI is released under GPL-2.0-or-later. See LICENSE.
See CHANGELOG.md.
Parth Joshi