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New Experiment: Content Resizing #300

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Description

@jeffpaul

Feature Overview & Value

Summary: This feature allows authors to select existing text blocks and use AI to modify their length or density without changing the core meaning with an Inline Transformation flow. The experience should feel like a "Smart Edit" where the text morphs in place, allowing for quick iteration.
Why it matters: Editors often struggle with pacing. A section might be too verbose (needs condensing) or a key point might feel underdeveloped (needs expanding). This tool acts as an instantaneous editor.

Use Cases

The "TL;DR": A user highlights a long, complex technical paragraph and chooses Condense to make it punchier for mobile readers.
Fleshing out ideas: A user writes a single sentence premise and chooses Expand to have the AI extrapolate it into a full paragraph.
Fitting Layouts: A designer needs a paragraph to be exactly 3 lines long to match a column layout; they use this tool to adjust the length accordingly.

User Interaction Flow

1. Entry Point (The Block Toolbar)

  • Trigger: The user selects a standard Paragraph Block (or other blocks that have text exposed like Heading and Cover Blocks).
  • The Icon: A native toolbar button (Sparkle or other AI icon) appears alongside standard controls like Bold/Italic/Link.
  • The Menu: Clicking the icon opens a Dropdown Menu (not a modal).
    • Options: "Shorten", "Expand", "Rephrase".

2. The Transformation Process

  • Selection: The user clicks an option (e.g., "Shorten").
  • Processing: The block enters a "Loading/Thinking" state (pulsing opacity or skeleton loader).
  • Output: The new text is returned.

###3. The Review State (The Diff)

Visuals: The original text is replaced by the new text, but it is highlighted (e.g., a subtle purple background) to indicate it is a "Suggestion."
Floating Controls: A small action bar floats above the block:

  • Accept: Commits the change and removes the highlight.
  • Retry: Re-runs the specific command.
  • Undo: Reverts immediately to the original text.

Technical Requirements

Supported Providers:

  • Must support OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google.

Input Data: The prompt must include the current block content as the source material.
Block Compatibility:

  • Primary support: Paragraph Blocks.
  • Secondary support (Desirable): List Blocks, Heading Blocks, Cover Blocks.

Authentication:
If the user attempts to resize text but has no provider connected, trigger the Connectors Component (if available), else display an error message and direct folks to Settings > Connectors.

UI Mechanics & Component Definitions

###1. The "Transformation Dropdown"

Placement: Anchored to the Toolbar button.
Items: List of actions with icons (e.g., Arrows pinching in for "Shorten", Arrows pushing out for "Expand").
Tone Slider (Future/Optional): Consider adding a "Tone" sub-menu (Professional, Casual) since the backend logic is identical to resizing (see #186 for more on this).

2. Error States

Too Short: If a user tries to "Condense" a 5-word sentence, return a polite notice ("Text is too short to shorten further").
Auth Failure: If the API key fails, display a non-intrusive "toast" error rather than breaking the editor UI.

Credits

Props to @linawiezkowiak, @lwoodmansee, and @rachaelcortellessa for the product definition, and @dkotter for technical review.

Activity

  1. added this to the Future Release milestone on Mar 11, 2026
  2. jeffpaul commented on Mar 11, 2026

    @jeffpaul
    MemberAuthor

    Tentatively assigning to @karmatosed in case they've got time and interest on crafting some mockups here, alternatively if there's someone else well-suited to tag in to help with designs?

  3. moved this to In discussion / Needs decision in WordPress AI Roadmapon Mar 11, 2026
  4. moved this from In discussion / Needs decision to Backlog in WordPress AI Roadmapon Mar 11, 2026
  5. moved this from Backlog to Needs review in WordPress AI Roadmapon Mar 23, 2026
  6. modified the milestones: Future Release, 0.7.0 on Mar 23, 2026
  7. modified the milestones: 0.7.0, 0.8.0 on Apr 9, 2026
  8. modified the milestones: 0.8.0, 0.9.0 on Apr 23, 2026
  9. moved this from Needs review to Done in WordPress AI Roadmapon Apr 30, 2026
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