AI Quick Start

1. Confirm prerequisites#

You need an Accelerate-connected WordPress site, an authenticated administrator or integration user, and an AI client that can call MCP or REST tools.

2. Start read-only#

Begin with a read-only ability before granting write or destructive permissions.

text

{
  "name": "accelerate/get-performance-summary",
  "arguments": {
    "datePreset": "7d"
  }
}

3. MCP setup for Claude Desktop#

The easiest way to use the Abilities API is through Claude Desktop with MCP. Add the server to your Claude Desktop configuration:

text

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "accelerate": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://your-site.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "MCP_HEADERS": "Authorization: Basic BASE64_ENCODED_CREDENTIALS"
      }
    }
  }
}

Replace your-site.com with the WordPress site URL and BASE64_ENCODED_CREDENTIALS with a base64-encoded username:application_password value.

4. REST API authentication#

For direct REST access, use WordPress Application Passwords with Basic Authentication:

text

# Generate base64 credentials
echo -n "username:application_password" | base64

# Make an API call
curl -X GET "https://your-site.com/wp-json/wp-abilities/v1/abilities" \
  -H "Authorization: Basic BASE64_CREDENTIALS"

Create the application password from Users -> Profile in WordPress admin. Give it a descriptive name for the AI client or integration, copy the generated password once, and store it in the client's secret/configuration store.

5. Validate the response#

The first useful check is whether the AI can answer a specific question from real site data:

How did the site perform over the last 7 days, and what should I look at first?

6. Add write access intentionally#

Only grant write access when the AI client has a review flow and the operator understands which abilities can create or change Accelerate objects.

Use Permissions before enabling execution abilities.