Originally, we posted this to the standard PowerPoint Forum, but they suggested that we should post this query to this forum.

We are seeking assistance in finding or developing a tool that can automate the process of updating non-decorative images in PowerPoint presentations while also adding AI-generated alt-text to ensure accessibility compliance. Specifically, we’re wondering if anyone in the community knows of an application, program, script, or macro that can achieve the following functionality:

1. Replace Images Based on Context:

• The tool should read a PPTX file and replace the existing non-decorative images with appropriate images stored in a folder.
• Ideally, the tool would use AI to analyze the content of each slide and select an image that matches its context.

2. Generate AI-Based Alt-Text:

• The tool should automatically add AI-generated alt-text to the updated images to meet accessibility standards.
  We have attempted to create this functionality using Python and Visual Basic. While we had some success, we faced challenges:
  • Our Python script, leveraging an LLM, updated all images successfully but did not dynamically choose new images for each slide.
  • The script was initially designed to replace only a specific image (a stock hammer image currently on every slide), but we later discovered that the images in these PPTs are not stored in the standard location. Instead of the usual shape.shape_type = 13, these images are tagged as shape.shape_type = 5. This non-standard tagging added complexity to the process.

The Challenge We’re Facing

As an instructor, I am developing a 15-week course curriculum that involves several medium-sized PowerPoint presentations for each week. Currently, I’m manually replacing images and generating alt-text for accessibility—a very tedious and time-consuming process.
While tools like the one developed by Arizona State University offer excellent functionality (e.g., using LLMs to recognize and generate alt-text for images), these steps still require manual intervention. For example, I must manually run the tool, query the LLM, and input the alt-text.

Why This is Important

The college requires all course PPTs to pass an accessibility test before they can be accepted. Having an automated solution to either:

1. update images contextually, or
2. generate and apply alt-text,

would make a significant difference.

If anyone has suggestions or can point us toward existing tools, frameworks, or even best practices for developing this functionality, we would deeply appreciate your insights.