Using AI to create alt text

ASU Online has created an AI-powered Image Accessibility Creator Tool with pre-made prompts to help generate alt text and long descriptions.

This FREE tool is an excellent place to start toward making images and materials accessible. Note that edits will need to be made to the output to adequately support students.

How to use the AI alt text and long description generator

• Visit the AI Image Accessibility Creator Tool homepage.
• Upload the image you want to create alt text for. Use the JPG, PNG, or JPEG format.
• Context matters for alt text! If you have context or an associated assessment question, check “Add details about the image” and enter it there.
• Click on “Create Image Details" See example results below, under “Image Breakdown”
• Ensure that the generated alt text is 120 characters long or less.
• Use long descriptions If you need more than 120 characters to convey what the students need to understand.

Note: Each output is not saved and will be at least slightly different every time an image is input into the tool. Therefore, be sure to save any generated alt text.

Tips for useful alt text and long descriptions

There isn’t one single right way to write alt text and long descriptions.

The most important thing is that the descriptions convey what students need to understand the material or to answer the associated assessment questions.

A subject matter expert (generally the instructor) is the person who truly knows what they are trying to convey and is ultimately responsible for ensuring proper alt text and long descriptions for all images and learning materials.

Reviewing output from the alt text and long description generator

An example:

Uploaded image:

Output from the AI Tool:

Image Breakdown

Long Description:

The image consists of four separate scatter plots labeled A, B, C, and D, arranged in a two-by-two grid. Each plot illustrates the relationship between parent trait values on the x-axis and offspring trait values on the y-axis. A diagonal line runs through each graph, representing a trend line.

In plot A, most of the black dots, labeled "Survived," are clustered above the diagonal line, while gray dots, labeled "Died," are below the line. In plot B, gray dots are predominantly above the line, with fewer black dots scattered below. Plot C has black dots above the line and gray dots tightly clustered below. In plot D, gray dots are above the line, with black dots below.

A legend in the top right corner indicates that black dots represent "Survived" and gray dots represent "Died." The title above the grid reads "Breeder's Equation Diagrams With Selection."

Alt-text:

Four scatter plots showing offspring and parent trait values with selection outcomes labeled A, B, C, and D.
Transcribed Text:
Breeder's Equation Diagrams With Selection
A
B
C
D
Survived
Died

Considerations and Suggested Edits:

• To better refine the descriptions for use, consider a few modifications:
• Notice that the output has long descriptions first, then alt text.
• Ensure that the alt text is less than 120 characters.
• Consider what information the output gives you.
  • Is there anything missing that a blind student might need to know to successfully use this graph for its intended purpose?
  • For example, do the students need to know something about the slope of the lines?
• Remove quotation marks around words.
• Remove (-) from x-axis and y-axis to support smoother reading by screen readers.
• Omit extraneous information.
  • For example, it is irrelevant that the graphs are “arranged in a two-by-two grid”.
• Remove the Transcribed Text unless you find it particularly helpful.

Example Modified with Suggested Edits:

Image Breakdown

Alt-text:

Four scatter plots showing offspring and parent trait values with selection outcomes labeled A, B, C, and D.

Long Description:

The image consists of four separate scatter plots labeled A, B, C, and D. Each plot illustrates the relationship between parent trait values on the x axis and offspring trait values on the y axis. A diagonal line with similar appearing slopes runs through each graph, representing a trend line. A legend in the top right corner indicates that black dots represent Survived and gray dots represent Died. The title above the grid reads Breeder's Equation Diagrams With Selection.

In plot A, most of the black dots, labeled Survived are clustered above the diagonal line, while gray dots, labeled Died are below the line. In plot B, gray dots are predominantly above the line, with fewer black dots scattered below. Plot C has black dots above the line and gray dots tightly clustered below. In plot D, gray dots are above the line, with black dots below. (You might choose to add more specific details of the data point distribution, depending on your desired outcomes. If students need to know the details about the point distribution, you might want to make an accessible table to accompany the graphs.)

Resources and Next Steps

Accessibility: Whose Responsibility Is It? 
Alt Text and Long Descriptions: A Practical Guide