WooCommerce plugin docs / Installation

Installation

Requirements

Before you install the plugin, confirm:

  • WordPress 6.5+
  • WooCommerce 8.2+ (active)
  • PHP 8.1+
  • A storefront theme that can print WooCommerce pages (Cart, Checkout, Shop)

The plugin will not load on older PHP. Administrators with activate_plugins see an admin notice explaining the PHP floor.

WooCommerce must be installed and active. The plugin header declares Requires Plugins: woocommerce.

Plugin installation

From the WordPress admin (ZIP)

  1. WordPress Admin → Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
  2. Choose the plugin ZIP
  3. Click Install Now
  4. Click Activate

From the plugins folder

  1. Copy the ai-woocommerce-shopping-assistant folder into wp-content/plugins/
  2. WordPress Admin → Plugins
  3. Find AI WooCommerce Shopping Assistant
  4. Click Activate

Activation

On activation the plugin:

  • Creates its custom database tables
  • Writes default options only if they do not already exist (re-activation does not wipe settings)
  • Schedules WP-Cron events for daily cleanup and (when used) cart recovery
  • Shows a one-time admin notice: the assistant is installed, catalog search works without an API key, and a link opens settings

If table creation fails, an error notice asks you to reload the screen or check the PHP error log. The option aiwsa_schema_error stores that failure until it is cleared.

Deactivating the plugin does not delete conversations, settings, or analytics.

Required plugins / dependencies

DependencyRequired?Notes
WooCommerceYesProducts, cart, checkout, orders
OpenAI or Gemini accountNoOnly for conversational AI, AI intent, and AI-written recovery emails
Vector databaseNoNo built-in semantic search backend

There is no Composer vendor directory in production. The plugin ships its own PHP.

License / API setup

This plugin does not include a CodeCanyon-style license key screen in the current code. Feature gates default to allowed unless another plugin filters aiwsa_feature_is_licensed.

API keys (optional) are configured at:

WooCommerce → AI Assistant → AI Provider

See AI Provider settings.

Production stores may define a constant in wp-config.php instead of saving a key in the database:

  • OpenAI: AIWSA_OPENAI_API_KEY
  • Gemini: AIWSA_GEMINI_API_KEY

A constant takes precedence over a key saved in admin.

First configuration

After activation:

  1. Open WooCommerce → AI Assistant
  2. Go to Settings → General
  3. Turn on Enable AI Agent (it is off by default)
  4. Optionally add an API key under AI Provider
  5. Visit the storefront and look for the floating launcher (on by default, bottom right)

Without Enable AI Agent, REST routes refuse traffic and the widget does not render.

Uninstall

Deleting the plugin from WordPress Admin → Plugins:

  • Always removes cron events and transients
  • Deletes conversations, tables, options, and log files only if Delete all plugin data on uninstall is enabled under Developer & Debug

See Developer & Debug and Privacy & security.

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