AI Alt Text tools help you draft text descriptions of images, and review, edit, and apply that text across digital content, quickly and easily.
We have tools available in Canvas and in Google (Docs and Slides), developed at U-M and supported by ITS.
Alt text makes images accessible for all by providing a meaningful text alternative for people who can’t see, access, or process the original image.
AI Alt Text for Google
AI Alt Text for Google is a U-M approved Google Workspace add-on that generates alt text for images in Google Slides and Google Docs. It helps users quickly identify images that need descriptions and create editable AI-generated alt text.
How to use it:
Open the add-on from within a Google Slides or Google Docs file, review the images it identifies, and generate, edit, or approve alt text as needed. You must have edit access to the file.
Where to get it:
Install the add-on from the Google Workspace Marketplace or from the Extensions > Add-ons menu in Google Slides or Google Docs. This add-on is only available to U-M faculty, students, and staff.
Support and data use:
Learn more about how to install and use AI Alt Text for Google.
Use of AI Alt Text for Google in U-M Google does not change the types of data permitted for use in U-M Google.
AI Alt Text for Canvas
AI Alt Text for Canvas is a Canvas tool powered by the U-M GPT Toolkit that helps instructors find and remediate inaccessible images in their Canvas courses. It scans course content and suggests editable alt text for images in areas including Pages, Assignments, Classic Quizzes, and Classic Quiz Questions.
How to use it:
Access the tool from the Instructor Tools menu in Canvas, scan or rescan the course, choose a content category to review, then approve, edit, or skip the AI-generated alt text suggestions. Approved changes are applied after saving the review batch.
Where to get it:
AI Alt Text for Canvas is available within Canvas through the Instructor Tools menu.
Support:
Learn more about how to use AI Alt Text for Canvas.
Need Help with AI Alt Text tools?
Contact the ITS Service Center for help.