Setup
User level: Administrator
To use the UF AI Alt Text Generator, you’ll need to generate an API key in NaviGator Toolkit. Choose an AI model that will accept image inputs (we recommend minimizing token cost as much as possible).
Make sure you copy the API key and save it somewhere safe, as you will not be able to view it again. API keys will expire after a certain amount of time, so you will need to regenerate and update the secret key periodically.
Once your key is generated, access the Alt Text Generator settings in your WordPress dashboard at Settings > UF AI Alt Text Generator.
- API Key/Token: your saved NaviGator Toolkit API key.
- Model: an AI model you have authorized your API key to use. Default is gemma-4-31b-it.
- Endpoint base: default recommended (https://api.ai.it.ufl.edu/v1)
- Default options are fine for the rest of the fields. Check the “Enable logging” checkbox if you want a log of events and errors.
Use
User level: Editor, Author
Always check AI generated alt text for accuracy.
Single image
- In WordPress dashboard, choose Media, then mouse over options for the desired image and choose “Regenerate Alt Text.”
- You can also choose “Regenerate alt text” from an image’s edit screen or while uploading.
- Automatic alt text generation on upload does not always work, so double check for alt text when uploading images.
Bulk alt text generation
- To find all uploaded images that lack alt text, choose Media > UF AI Alt Text Generator and scan for missing alt text.
- Once the scan is complete, select “Generate alt text.”
- Note any errors during generation and update those images’ alt text manually.
- If generation stalls or creates too many errors, refresh the page and repeat the scan and regeneration, or reduce the scan limit and run the scan/regeneration cycle until no more missing alt text is found.