Microsoft has announced a new accessibility-focused feature for Microsoft 365 subscribers using eligible Copilot+ PCs: automatic image captions in Word and PowerPoint. With this update, images added to documents can now receive AI-generated captions—also known as alt text—without requiring manual input. The captions are generated automatically when an image is inserted, and users can either approve them as-is or edit them before finalizing. The feature also works retroactively, allowing captions to be generated for images already present in existing documents.
The functionality is designed to improve document accessibility and workflow efficiency, particularly for users who regularly work with image-heavy presentations or reports. By automating caption creation, Microsoft aims to reduce the friction involved in meeting accessibility standards while keeping users in control of the final output. The captions are generated locally using on-device AI, rather than relying solely on cloud processing.
Automatic captions are rolling out to Microsoft 365 subscribers running version 2512 (Build 19530.20006). However, the feature is limited to Copilot+ computers equipped with a neural processing unit capable of at least 40 TOPS. This hardware requirement underscores Microsoft’s continued push toward AI features that rely on dedicated on-device acceleration rather than general-purpose CPUs or GPUs.