Automatic alt text on upload

With Automatic Generation on, every image you upload gets AI alt text a few moments later, as long as its Alternative Text is empty. Images already in your library aren't touched. For those, see Generate missing alt text.

Save a site API key first

Automatic alt text needs an OpenRouter key saved for the whole site. A key pasted on the AI Alt Text screen isn't enough.

  1. Go to Dirigible → AI / OpenRouter.
  2. Fill in OpenRouter API Key and save.
  3. Go back to Dirigible → AI Alt Text.

Until a site key is saved, the automatic section asks you to add one, and the checkbox doesn't appear.

Turn it on

  1. Open Dirigible → AI Alt Text.
  2. Under Automatic Generation, check Automatically generate alt text when images are uploaded.
  3. Change the Model if you want. The recommended default works well.
  4. Upload a test image in Media → Library and check that Alternative Text fills in after a short wait.

Uncheck the box to turn it off. It never overwrites alt text you've already written.

Tips

  • Each upload uses OpenRouter credits.
  • Uploading a large batch queues a lot of work in the background. To watch progress instead, turn automatic generation off, upload the batch, then use Generate All Alt Text on the AI Alt Text screen.