What you need
- WordPress with the free AI Engine plugin by Meow Apps.
- An API key from OpenAI or Anthropic, with billing set up there. You pay the provider per use.
- Optional: AI Engine Pro (from $59/year) for knowledge bases, forms and usage limits.
Install and connect your AI provider
- Go to Plugins > Add New, search for AI Engine (by Jordy Meow) and install and activate it.
- Create an API key in your provider's console (OpenAI or Anthropic) and make sure billing is active.
- Go to Meow Apps > AI Engine > Settings > AI. Under *Environments for AI*, paste your key into the OpenAI environment, or add a new environment and set its Type to Anthropic (or Google, OpenRouter and so on).
- Check the default models for each task. The defaults are fine to start with.
If you use a non-OpenAI key, set the environment's Type to match the provider, or requests will fail.
Configure and place the chatbot
- Open Modules and enable only the features you need.
- Open the Chatbots tab and edit the Default chatbot: instructions, first message, environment and model, and theme. The preview updates live.
- Place it: select it under Site-Wide Chatbot at the top of the Chatbots tab, or add the AI Chatbot block, or the shortcode
[mwai_chatbot id="default"], to a page. - Optionally enable Discussions in the chatbot settings to keep a log of conversations.
Keep costs under control
- A public chatbot spends your API credit with every message. Set a monthly budget limit in your OpenAI or Anthropic console.
- AI Engine Pro adds usage limits per user or per site.
- Write clear instructions telling the bot what it should and shouldn't answer, and test it before going live.
FAQ
Why doesn't my chatbot show up?
It stays hidden until you set it site-wide or place the block or shortcode on a page.
Can I use Claude with AI Engine?
Yes. Add an environment with Type set to Anthropic and paste your Anthropic API key.