Release version 0.7.0

[jeffpaul]

This issue is for tracking changes for the 0.7.0 release. Target release date: 9 April 2026.

Pre-release steps

• Review and merge Use toggle UI, auto-save, and inline DataForm settings for experiments #376 (follow-up needed to move Image Gen to new visual Features section at top of AI settings page)
• Punt Implement Refine from Notes batch processing and progress indicator #289
• Review and merge [Feature]: Issue 240 | SEO Descriptions #318
• Punt [Feature]: Issue 300 | Content Resizing #331
• Punt Feature/content guidelines #359
• Review and merge Remove unneeded function_exists checks #378
• Punt feat: check wp_supports_ai() before initializing experiments #268
• Review and merge Add is_supported_* checks for better error handling #362
• Review and merge Add extensibility hooks for system instructions, ability results, and post context #304
• Review and merge Add bulk "Generate Alt Text" action to Media Library #330
• Review and merge Switch to using a Button component instead of ToolbarButton #375
• Review and merge chore: Update NPM and Composer deps #401

Release steps

• Branch: Starting from develop, cut a release branch named release/0.7.0 for your changes.
• Version bump: Bump the version number in ai.php, package-lock.json, and readme.txt if it does not already reflect the version being released. In includes/bootstrap.php, ensure you're updating the WPAI_VERSION version constant.
• Update @since: Find all new @since x.x.x lines and update those with the new version number in place of x.x.x.
• Changelog: Add/update the changelog in CHANGELOG.md and in readme.txt.
• Props: update CREDITS.md file with any new contributors, confirm maintainers are accurate.
• Readme updates: Make any other readme changes as necessary in README.md and readme.txt.
• New files: Check to be sure any new files/paths that are unnecessary in the production version are included in .gitattributes.
• Merge release PR: Make a non-fast-forward merge from your release branch to develop (or merge the pull request).
• Merge develop to trunk: Do the same for develop into trunk, ensuring you pull the most recent changes into develop first (git checkout develop && git pull origin develop && git checkout trunk && git pull origin trunk && git merge --no-ff develop). trunk now contains the stable development version.
• Push: Push your trunk branch to GitHub (e.g. git push origin trunk).
• Compare: Check that no results show in comparing a merge from develop into trunk as that means the prior steps completed successfully.
• Wait for build: Head to the Actions tab in the repo and wait for it to finish if it hasn't already. If it doesn't succeed, figure out why and start over.
• Check the build: Check out the trunk branch and test for functionality locally.
• Test: Check the end-to-end tests are passing. Only proceed if everything tests successfully.
• Release: Create a new release, naming the tag and the release with the new version number, and targeting the trunk branch. Paste the changelog for the release from CHANGELOG.md into the body of the release and include a link to [View all items closed in the milestone](https://github.com/WordPress/ai/milestone/15?closed=1). The release should now appear under releases.

Post-release steps

• Close milestone: Edit the milestone with release date (in the Due date (optional) field) and link to GitHub release (in the Description field), then close the milestone.
• Punt incomplete items: If any open issues or PRs which were milestoned for 0.7.0 do not make it into the release, update their milestone to 0.8.0 or Future Release.
• Announce: Publish release announcement post on Make/AI, cross-posting to Make/Core and Make/Test (example).
• Profile badges: Grant new contributors the Core AI Contributor profile badge.

[jeffpaul]

Tests and linting passed: https://github.com/WordPress/ai/actions/runs/24211329905
Plugin check passed: https://github.com/WordPress/ai/actions/runs/24211329884
Local testing passed.

[jeffpaul]

0.7.0 now available: https://github.com/WordPress/ai/releases/tag/0.7.0

[jeffpaul]

Deployed to WPORG: https://github.com/WordPress/ai/actions/runs/24212238568
Approved release management for immediate rollout: https://wordpress.org/plugins/developers/releases/