Google is going to require disclosure for AI-generated content on YouTube. Overall, this seems like a good move. I hope they are able to enforce it.

Beginning in May 2020, Automattic sponsored Anne McCarthy to run the FSE Outreach program. The idea was to encourage WordPress users to try new features and also to be a conduit to get non-core user feedback to the core team. The program has been a success, both in terms of providing better communication, but also as a tool for bettering community relations.

Now Anne is moving on to other tasks and the outreach program, which was originally seen as temporary, is being given a more permanent status as part of the testing team. Birgit Pauli-Haack will be the new lead.

Performant Translations – Yet another set of features slated to be included in WordPress 6.5 are a number of big performance improvements with internationalization. Up to now these improvements have been being tested via a feature plugin.

Also included in this article on the Make blog is information on a new translation file format which you may begin seeing.

Native support for AVIF is coming in WordPress 6.5. AVIF images can be up to 50% smaller than a JPG image with the same or better image quality. Can I use says there is about 89% browser support.

The Crocoblock team shares the list of the best WordPress communites to join to stay up to date and follow new trends.

There is a proposal to update the guidelines for plugin reviews to allow pro-related reviews, perhaps in some cases.

There are a number of new features coming to WordPress this year. This video mentions 10 updates to watch for.

The beginning of the new year is a time to ponder trends and predict what will happen in the coming year. Here are David McCan’s top 3 predictions for 2024.

WordPress com is Automattic’s hosting platform and if you have a paid Creator plan or above then you can install WP plugins. This is a list of the most installed free plugins on dot com in 2023.