AltGenius - AI-Powered ALT Text Generator for WordPress

AltGenius is an advanced WordPress plugin for automatically generating alternative texts (ALT) for images using OpenAI artificial intelligence. The plugin significantly improves website accessibility and SEO through intelligent image descriptions.

🚀 Key Features

🤖 Automatic ALT Generation

• AI Generation: Uses GPT models (gpt-4o-mini, gpt-4.1, o3, o4-mini) to create accurate, contextual image descriptions
• Vision API: Direct image analysis (base64) instead of URL
• Content Context: Automatic consideration of post/page/product context

⚡ Automation (CRON)

• Frequency: Every 5 minutes (288×/day) - runs automatically in the background
• Limit: 30 images per run
• Performance: ~8,640 requests/day (safe for OpenAI Tier 1: 10,000/day)
• Detailed logging of all operations to logs/alt-scan-log.txt

🔄 Gutenberg Sync

• Two-way ALT synchronization between Media Library and Gutenberg image blocks
• Automatic update: ALT change in library → update in all posts
• Reverse sync: ALT edit in Gutenberg → save to library
• Block support: wp:image and classic <img>

📊 Statistics Dashboard

• Dedicated top-level menu in WordPress
• Real-time KPIs:
  • All images in library
  • Images with ALT
  • Images without ALT
  • Coverage percentage
• Unsupported formats (SVG, etc.) - shows how many images cannot be processed
• Cron Status: Whether active, when next run
• Model Information: Alert showing supported image formats and limitations of selected AI model

🛡️ Format Validation

• Supported OpenAI formats: PNG, JPEG, JPG, GIF, WEBP
• Automatic validation: SVG and other unsupported formats are rejected before sending to API
• Savings: Prevents 400 errors and wasting API limits
• Future-ready: Structure prepared for adding other AI providers (e.g., Gemini) with different supported formats

⚙️ Bulk Actions

• Generate for selected - processing selected images in media library
• Library button - single "Generate ALT" button for each image

🔄 Automatic Updates

• GitHub Releases integration - automatic update downloads from kacperbaranowski/AltGenius
• Public repo - no token required
• Safe updates - settings preserved

📦 Installation

Method 1: Via WordPress Dashboard

1. Download the latest version from GitHub Releases
2. Go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
3. Select the downloaded ZIP file
4. Click Install Now
5. Activate the plugin

Method 2: Manual Installation

1. Download the plugin from GitHub
2. Extract the folder to /wp-content/plugins/
3. Activate the plugin in WordPress dashboard

Method 3: Git (for developers)

cd wp-content/plugins/
git clone https://github.com/kacperbaranowski/AltGenius.git wp-alt-generator

⚙️ Configuration

1. Get OpenAI API Key

1. Go to platform.openai.com
2. Log in or create an account
3. Create a new API key
4. Copy the key (keep it in a safe place!)

2. Plugin Configuration

1. In WordPress go to AltGenius → Settings
2. Paste the API Key in the appropriate field
3. Select Model (recommended: gpt-4o-mini for best price-to-quality ratio)
4. (Optional) Customize the Prompt to your needs
5. (Optional) Enable Automatic generation on upload
6. Click Save Changes

📖 Usage

Statistics Dashboard

1. Go to AltGenius → Statistics
2. View:
   • KPI Cards: All images, With ALT, Without ALT, Coverage %
   • Cron Status: Whether active, when next run (every 5 minutes)
   • Info: Cron processes ~8,640 images/day

Generating ALT for a Single Image

1. Go to Media → Library
2. Find an image without ALT
3. Click the Generate ALT button
4. Wait for generation (status will appear next to the button)

Bulk ALT Generation

1. Go to Media → Library
2. Select images (checkbox next to thumbnails)
3. From Bulk Actions menu select Generate ALT for selected
4. Click Apply

Automatic Generation (CRON)

Cron runs automatically every 5 minutes and:

• Scans media library for images without ALT
• Processes 30 images per run
• Logs all operations to logs/alt-scan-log.txt
• Requires no intervention - runs in background 24/7

Cron Status: Check in AltGenius → Statistics

🎨 Customization

Changing the Prompt

Default prompt:

Describe this photo in one sentence in English for ALT. URL: {{image_url}}

You can customize it in AltGenius → Settings → Prompt. Use {{image_url}} as a placeholder.

Examples:

Create a short, descriptive alt text for this image: {{image_url}}

Generate WCAG 2.1 compliant alt text for: {{image_url}}

Changing Cron Frequency (advanced)

Default: every 5 minutes. To change, edit in the plugin file (line ~537):

$schedules['every_5_minutes'] = [
    'interval' => 300, // 300 seconds = 5 minutes
    'display'  => __('Every 5 minutes')
];

Example values:

• 60 - every minute (not recommended - rate limits!)
• 300 - every 5 minutes (default, recommended for Tier 1)
• 600 - every 10 minutes
• 1800 - every 30 minutes

⚠️ Note: After changing, you must deactivate and reactivate the plugin!

Changing Processing Limit

Default: 30 images/batch (optimal for OpenAI Tier 1). Edit in default settings (line ~78):

'scan_limit' => 30

⚠️ Note:

• Tier 1 (10,000 RPD): max ~35 at 5-minute interval
• Tier 2+ (50,000 RPD): you can increase to 100-150

🗂️ File Structure

wp-alt-generator/
├── wp-alt-generator.php    # Main plugin file
├── assets/
│   ├── altgpt.js           # JS for media library
│   ├── stats.js            # JS for statistics dashboard
│   └── stats.css           # Styles for statistics dashboard
├── logs/
│   └── alt-scan-log.txt    # Log file (created automatically)
└── README.md

🔐 Security

• API Key: Stored securely in WordPress database
• Nonce verification: All AJAX actions secured
• Capability checks: Only administrators have access (manage_options)

💰 OpenAI API Costs

The plugin uses Vision API (image analysis), which affects costs:

OpenAI Tier 1 (10,000 RPD)

• Cost per image: ~$0.001 - $0.003 (model: gpt-4o-mini)
• Daily performance: ~8,640 images (with default settings)
• Daily cost: ~$8.64 - $25.92
• Monthly cost: ~$259 - $777

Examples (gpt-4o-mini):

• 100 images: ~$0.10 - $0.30
• 1,000 images: ~$1.00 - $3.00
• 10,000 images: ~$10.00 - $30.00

💡 Tip: Use gpt-4o-mini for lowest costs while maintaining good quality!

Check current prices at OpenAI Pricing.

🐛 Troubleshooting

"Missing API key"

• Make sure the API key is correctly pasted in AltGenius → Settings
• Check for extra spaces

"OpenAI error 401"

• API key is invalid or expired
• Generate a new key at platform.openai.com

"OpenAI error 429" (Rate Limit)

• API request limit exceeded
• Tier 1: Reduce limit to 20-25 images or increase interval to 10 minutes
• Solution: Upgrade to Tier 2+ on OpenAI

Cron not working

• Check status: AltGenius → Statistics → "Automatic Generation" section
• Reset cron: Deactivate and reactivate the plugin
• WordPress Cron: Check if not disabled (DISABLE_WP_CRON)
• Logs: Check logs/alt-scan-log.txt for errors

Gutenberg Sync not working

• Verification: Edit a post in Gutenberg and change an image's ALT
• Check logs: Saved in logs/alt-scan-log.txt
• Cache: Clear WordPress and browser cache

High API usage

• Reduce limit from 30 to 20 (line ~78)
• Increase interval from 5 to 10 minutes (line ~537)
• Monitor usage at platform.openai.com/usage

🤝 Support and Bug Reports

• Issues: GitHub Issues
• Author: Kacper Baranowski
• GitHub: @kacperbaranowski

📄 License

GPLv2 or later - https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

---

Was this plugin helpful? Leave a ⭐ on GitHub!