No More Excuses: ChatGPT-4V(ision) is great for generating Alt-Text!

In our digital age, ensuring that online content is accessible to everyone is paramount. One vital aspect of this is the inclusion of alt-text for images, which aids visually impaired users in comprehending visual content. With advancements in AI, particularly the new GPT-4V(ision) model by OpenAI, this task has become significantly more manageable.

Why Alt-Text Matters

Alt-text is a brief textual description associated with an image, chart, or any visual media. When visual elements cannot be accessed – either due to visual impairments, browser issues, or slow internet connections – alt-text comes to the rescue by describing the content, ensuring everyone gets the message.

Applications of GPT-4V(ision) for Alt-Text Generation

Beyond just web content, there's a myriad of use-cases for alt-text generation:

1. E-Learning Platforms: Enhance the accessibility of online courses and ensure that all students, regardless of their abilities, can access content effectively.
2. Presentations: For business or academic settings, make sure your message reaches everyone in the audience.
3. Digital Magazines: Extend the readership of your publications by making them more inclusive.
4. Social Media Posts: Make your posts stand out and be accessible to all.
5. E-commerce Sites: Provide product descriptions to cater to all potential customers.

... and many more! Especially as an educator, it is my duty to make sure that EVERYBODY can access my materials and teaching in a barrier-free way.

Step-by-Step Instruction to Use GPT-4V(ision) for Alt-Text

Before we get into how to generate Alt-Text easily with ChatGPT, a note: GPT-4V(ision) is only available to ChatGPT Plus subscribers. It is unknown if this feature will be made available to users of the free GPT-3.5 at the time of writing.

• Access the OpenAI Platform: Log into your OpenAI account.
• Select GPT-4: Start a New Chat and select GPT-4.

• Navigate to GPT-4V(ision): Inside the chat text box, you can see a new symbol representing an image. Click on it!

• Upload Your Image: Once clicked, a window opens to navigate to the image you want to upload. Alternatively, you can drag and drop the desired image straight into the text box.
• Generate Alt-Text: Prompt ChatGPT similar to the following "Describe what you can see in the image, and generate the description so it is suitable to be used for alt-text." Send, and in a few seconds, the model will provide a concise description.

• Review & Implement: Always review the generated text for accuracy and context. Once satisfied, you can integrate it into your content.

No More Excuses for Not Using Alt-Text

With GPT-4V(ision), the process of creating alt-text is now straightforward. In a world that's rapidly advancing digitally, it's essential to ensure that no one is left behind. Alt-text is not just a feature – it's a step towards making the digital world inclusive, and ChatGPT-4V(ision) can be of great help to you in contributing to that!

Note: Please remember that while AI can aid in the process, human oversight is essential to ensure that generated alt-text meets the context and standards required.