AI featured images

The AI Featured Images screen lists Posts Without Featured Images and suggests a photo for each. Click a suggestion and it's set as the featured image right away.

Nothing is generated automatically when you publish a post or upload an image.

Open the screen

  1. Install and activate Dirigible AI Alt Text.
  2. In the WordPress admin, go to Dirigible → AI Featured Images.

Add your API key

The AI decides what to search for based on each post, and writes alt text for any photo it adds to your Media Library.

  • Paste your OpenRouter API Key. A key entered here isn't saved, so you'll paste it again next time.
  • If a key is already saved for the whole site, the screen says so and you can skip this.
  • Leave Model on the recommended default unless you have a reason to change it.

To save a key for the whole site, go to Dirigible → AI / OpenRouter and fill in OpenRouter API Key.

Image Sources

Check at least one source. Each one offers up to Results per source suggestions (6 by default).

  • Images from page content (on by default): photos already used in the post.
  • Media library: images in your library that match the post title.
  • Pexels: free stock photos. Check it, then paste a Pexels API Key under Pexels Configuration. You can also set Image orientation (Pexels) to Landscape, Portrait, or Square.

Pexels photos are free for commercial use, and the photographer credit is saved with the image.

Set a featured image

  1. Set API Configuration and Image Sources.
  2. On a post, click Load Suggestions.
  3. Click the image you want. Suggestions are grouped as From this page, From media library, From Pexels, or External (from another site).
  4. The card shows Featured image set and drops off the list.

External images appear in the post but aren't in your library yet. Choosing one copies it into the library, and Pexels photos work the same way. To see different Pexels photos, change the search words and click Search, or click Regenerate all suggestions.

Edit Post opens the post in a new tab.

Load All Suggestions

Load All Suggestions loads suggestions for every post on the current page. It does not set any featured images; you still click an image on each post.

Click Refresh List to update the count of posts still missing a featured image.