WordPress Chatbot AI Disclosure: Step-by-Step Setup Guide for EU AI Act Compliance

Article 50(1) of the EU AI Act requires that anyone who deploys an AI chatbot on a website must clearly inform users that they are interacting with an AI system. This obligation applies from August 2, 2026. If your WordPress site has any AI-powered chat widget, you need to add this disclosure now.

This guide covers the exact steps for the most commonly used WordPress chatbot solutions — and a universal fallback that works for any chat widget.

What the law requires: Article 50(1) says deployers must ensure users are informed that they are interacting with an AI system "in a clear and distinguishable manner" — before or at the very start of the conversation. A visible, plain-language notice placed in the chatbot opener satisfies this requirement.

Does this apply to my chatbot?

The disclosure obligation applies to AI chatbots — systems that use language models to generate responses dynamically. It does not apply to simple rule-based FAQ bots that only show pre-written responses via a fixed decision tree (no generative AI component). If users could type a free-text question and receive a dynamically generated answer, it is an AI chatbot for AI Act purposes.

What the disclosure must say

The disclosure does not require legal boilerplate. It must be:

Accepted phrasing examples:

Step-by-step: Tidio

Tidio (AI Lyro chatbot)

  1. Log in to your Tidio dashboard → Chatbots
  2. Open the Lyro AI chatbot or your active bot flow
  3. Find the Welcome message / greeting step (the first message users see)
  4. Edit it to include an explicit AI disclosure, for example:
    "Hi! I'm Lyro, an AI assistant. How can I help you today?"
  5. Save and publish the chatbot

Tidio also has a "Bot name" field — ensure the name does not imply a human identity (e.g., "AI Support" or "Lyro Bot" rather than a personal first name without qualification).

Step-by-step: Crisp

Crisp (with MagicReply or AI plugin)

  1. In your Crisp dashboard, go to Plugins → Chatbot
  2. Select your active chatbot scenario and edit it
  3. Edit the first block (the initial message shown when the chat opens)
  4. Add a clear AI disclosure to the opener, e.g.:
    "Hello! You're speaking with an AI. I can help you with common questions."
  5. If using MagicReply (AI-assisted replies by human agents), note this is a hybrid setup — the AI Act disclosure applies when the AI is responding without human review
  6. Save and republish the chatbot

Step-by-step: WP-Chatbot (MobileMonkey / Meta)

WP-Chatbot for Messenger

  1. In WordPress admin: WP-Chatbot → Mobile Monkey Dashboard (or directly in Mobile Monkey)
  2. Open your active chatbot page / dialogue
  3. Edit the Welcome Message or the first dialogue block
  4. Add the AI disclosure upfront:
    "Hi! I'm an automated AI assistant. A human team member can also help if needed."
  5. Save and sync

Step-by-step: ChatBot.com (WordPress plugin)

ChatBot.com plugin

  1. Log in to ChatBot.com → Stories
  2. Open your default story
  3. Click the Bot Response block at the very start of the story
  4. Add your AI disclosure as the first message text, e.g.:
    "Hi there! I'm an AI assistant. Ask me anything."
  5. Publish the story

Universal fallback: any custom or embedded widget

If your chatbot is embedded via a script tag or iframe and you cannot edit its welcome message directly, you can overlay a disclosure banner using a small snippet in your WordPress theme or a plugin like Code Snippets:

/* Add to functions.php or via Code Snippets plugin */ add_action('wp_footer', function() { ?> <div id="ai-chat-disclosure" style=" position:fixed; bottom:80px; right:20px; z-index:9999; background:#4f46e5; color:#fff; font-size:13px; padding:8px 14px; border-radius:8px; font-family:sans-serif; max-width:220px; display:none; box-shadow:0 4px 16px rgba(0,0,0,.18);"> 🤖 AI Chat: This assistant is powered by AI. </div> <script> (function(){ /* Show disclosure when chat widget is opened */ var shown = false; function showDisclosure() { if (!shown) { document.getElementById('ai-chat-disclosure').style.display = 'block'; shown = true; setTimeout(function(){ document.getElementById('ai-chat-disclosure').style.display = 'none'; }, 6000); } } /* Trigger on chat widget button click — adjust selector for your widget */ document.addEventListener('click', function(e) { if (e.target.closest('[data-id="crisp-chatbox"]') || e.target.closest('.tidio-chat-icon') || e.target.closest('.wpbot-trigger')) { showDisclosure(); } }); })(); </script>

Adjust the CSS selectors in the script to match your specific chat widget's trigger button. While a native welcome message is the cleanest approach, this overlay satisfies the Article 50(1) requirement if direct widget configuration is not possible.

After making the change: verify it works

  • Open your site in a private/incognito browser window (to get the first-visit experience)
  • Open the chat and confirm the disclosure appears before or within the first message
  • Document the change — a screenshot with date saved to your compliance file is sufficient
  • Run the Legibright checker on your URL to confirm the AI Act disclosure is detected

This article is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified legal professional.