You do not have to use shortcodes. Results AI Search ships with a native block and a classic widget.
The Gutenberg block:
- Edit any page or post.
- Click the plus button and search for Results AI Search.
- Insert the block.
With the block selected, the sidebar gives you the same controls as the shortcode:
- Placeholder text
- Alignment
- Group results by
- Limit to types, by slug
- Limit to categories, by slug
- Style: default, minimal or square
- Accent colour
The block is rendered live by the plugin, so it always reflects your current settings and index.
The classic widget:
Go to Appearance, then Widgets, and add the Results AI Search widget to any widget area. It has a title field and a placeholder field, and it automatically fills the width of your sidebar.
Which should I use?
They all produce the same search bar. Use the block if you work in the block editor, the widget for sidebars and footers, and the shortcode for page builders or theme templates.