Show HN: AI crawler access control for WordPress (allow, deny, teaser previews) (wordpress.org)

OpenBotAuth, a new WordPress plugin, enhances publishers’ ability to manage automated access from AI crawlers by utilizing RFC 9421 HTTP Message Signatures for verification. This tool allows for customizable policies on a per-site or per-post basis, enabling actions like allowing full access, displaying teaser previews, or denying entry. Publishers can not only track AI bot traffic with local analytics but also set rate limits, whitelist or blacklist specific agents, and serve AI-friendly endpoints such as llms.txt and JSON feeds. The significance of OpenBotAuth for the AI/ML community lies in its capacity to strike a balance between accessibility for AI agents and protection for content. By using cryptographic signature verification, the plugin ensures that only authenticated bots can access full content, while also providing teaser snippets to unverified bots. This dual approach could encourage responsible AI crawling while giving content creators more control over how their work is accessed and monetized. With features like a visual analytics dashboard and customizable policies, OpenBotAuth positions itself as an essential tool for WordPress users navigating the complexities of AI interactions.