#1025 - WP-Tonic This Month in WordPress & Tech Round Table Show for August, 2026

#1025 - WP-Tonic This Month in WordPress & Tech Round Table Show for August, 2026 WordPress and Tech Stories of The Month. Get the insights you Need Now. Discover the month's must-know WordPress and tech stories in our latest video! We explore key updates, fascinating innovations, and expert commentary vital for anyone in the digital realm. Our engaging discussion keeps you informed and inspired as you navigate your tech journey. Don’t wait—watch now to catch up on what matters most in WordPress and technology. This Month's Special Guest Panelist: James Laws, CEO of Ninja Forms https://jameslaws.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-laws/ @JamesLaws ---------------------- Sponsors of The Show ------------------------------- Jetpack - https://www.wp-tonic.com/deals/ Ninja Forms - https://ninjaforms.com/ WP-Rollover - https://www.wp-tonic.com/deals/ LifterLMS - https://www.wp-tonic.com/deals/ ----------------------------- ------------------------------- #1 - WordPress 7.1 “Mary Lou” Launches at WordCamp US With Responsive Styling, Improved Media Handling, and New Blocks WordPress 7.1 “Mary Lou” was released yesterday during WordCamp US 2026 in Phoenix. Named for pioneering jazz pianist, arranger, and composer Mary Lou Williams, the release brings long-awaited responsive styling, improved media handling, inline notes with mentions, a persistent admin bar, new blocks, and expanded developer APIs. https://www.therepository.email/wordpress-7-1-mary-lou-launches-at-wordcamp-us-with-responsive-styling-improved-media-handling-and-new-blocks #2 - OpenAI hit the brakes. Now what? With a looming IPO, intense competition from Anthropic, and Chinese and open-weight rivals nipping at its heels, OpenAI has plenty of reasons to move fast. Instead, it hit the brakes. https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/982323/openai-hit-brakes-voluntary-pacing-ai #3 - State of the Community Survey Finds Three in Four Feel Worse About WordPress, but 90% Agree on What Matters Nearly three in four people surveyed about their experience in the WordPress community say they feel worse about the project than they did two years ago — but they haven’t left. https://www.therepository.email/state-of-the-community-survey-finds-three-in-four-feel-worse-about-wordpress-but-90-agree-on-what-matters #4 - Mark Zuckerberg AI essay pushes back on doomers, open source Zuckerberg Is Right About Open, Decentralized AI. He’s Also The Last Person You Should Trust To Deliver It? https://tech.yahoo.com/ai/meta-ai/articles/mark-zuckerberg-ai-essay-pushes-111951277.html #5 - Accessibility Team Initiative “Permanently Delayed” as Matt Mullenweg Declares Team Has “Overstepped Its Authority” WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg has moved to shut down a WordPress Accessibility Team initiative to enforce updated theme accessibility standards, declaring the team has “overstepped its authority, usefulness, and charter.” https://www.therepository.email/accessibility-team-initiative-permanently-delayed-as-matt-mullenweg-declares-team-has-overstepped-its-authority #6 - Cats and dogs are missing meals after a popular smart feeder went down A Petlibro outage is preventing its smart pet feeders and other devices from performing scheduled tasks, like dispensing food. The outage began on Tuesday, with users across Reddit reporting that their smart feeders, litter boxes, and water fountains have gone offline. https://www.theverge.com/tech/979295/petlibro-outage-smart-pet-feeders