AI can help you get started with alt text quickly. Tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini can describe images accurately and tailor descriptions to the course context and instructional purpose.
Prompt template
Upload your image to your preferred AI tool. Fill in the blanks in the template below, copy it into the AI tool, and use it to generate a draft of appropriate alt text.
Write concise alt text for this image based on best practices for accessibility.
The image is used in the [level] [Discipline] course titled [“Course Title”].
The image is intended to illustrate [instructional purpose].
Include any visible text only if it is important. Focus on the essential information, not every visual detail.
Completed example
For example, a completed alt text prompt for an image on psychological safety in an undergraduate course on business ethics would read:
“Write concise alt text for this image based on best practices for accessibility.
The image is used in the undergraduate Business course titled “Business Ethics.”
The image is intended to illustrate the importance of psychological safety in the workplace.
Include any visible text only if it is important. Focus on the essential information, not every visual detail.”
Once you have the output, review it to make sure it says what you need. A good workflow is to upload your image, use AI to generate a draft, review it for accuracy, paste it into your image settings or alt text field in the software you’re using, and make any appropriate edits. Be sure to double-check before publishing.
