Create a PowerPoint presentation with an AI

You need to present a topic to colleagues, students or a panel, and you don’t know where to start. AI can help you find the structure and write the text. You stay in control of the final file.

Specify the topic, the audience and the duration

Give the AI three pieces of information: the topic, who will listen, and how much time you have. The more precise your request, the more useful the outline. To write a clear request, see our guide to writing a good prompt.

Example request I am preparing a 10-minute talk on [the topic] for [the audience, for example: high school students]. Suggest a slide outline suited to this.

Ask for a slide outline

Ask for the title of each slide. Check that each slide carries only one idea. If the outline is too long, ask the AI to shorten it.

Example request Give me the title of each slide, one idea per slide, for a presentation of [number] slides. Present the outline as a numbered list.

Have the text written slide by slide

For each slide, ask for a title, three or four short bullet points, and speaker notes. The notes are the text you read or rephrase during the presentation. Keep the bullet points short: the audience must be able to read them at a glance.

Example request For slide number [X] titled “[title]”, write a title, three or four short bullet points, then speaker notes of about 4 sentences.

Build the presentation

One method is to copy the AI’s text and paste it into PowerPoint or Google Slides. You can then choose the template, colors and fonts yourself.

Some plans include AI help directly in the software. These features depend on your subscription. They are not required.

• Copilot in PowerPoint: you need an eligible Microsoft 365 subscription and an Internet connection. The “Copilot” button is in the ribbon. Describe your presentation in the prompt box. You can also turn a Word document into a draft slideshow. Only .ppt and .pptx files are accepted. For the subscription, see our guide on Copilot in Word.
• Gemini in Google Slides: you need an eligible Google Workspace plan or a Google AI plan. Click the “Ask Gemini” icon. With the “Generate presentation” option from slides.new, Gemini suggests an outline that you can edit or approve before the slides are created.

Check the official website of the publisher for prices and access conditions.

For a school presentation, first ask your teacher whether they have rules on using AI. See our guide to homework help.

Check the facts and the images

An AI can invent figures, quotes or sources and present them with confidence. The CNIL reminds us that these systems can generate inaccurate results that seem plausible. Microsoft also warns that content generated by Copilot in PowerPoint may be inaccurate.

For each figure or quote, find the original source. If you cannot find it, remove the information. To go further, see our guide on finding reliable information.

Example request For each figure in this presentation, tell me the source I can check to verify it. If you are not sure of a source, say so clearly.

For images, the rules are strict:

• A photo found on the internet cannot illustrate a presentation without the author’s permission, unless clear terms of use say otherwise.
• Posting an image online does not give you the right to reproduce it.
• For an image generated by AI, follow the usage rules of the tool you are using.

If you have doubts, choose a royalty-free image or create your own diagrams.

Good habits

• Check every figure, date and quote before presenting.
• Protect your data: do not put the name of a real person or any confidential information in your request. Replace them with [brackets]. See our guide on personal data and AI reliability.
• Reread the texts aloud. Adapt them to the way you speak.
• Stay in control of the outline: remove anything that does not sound like you.
• Check your rights for each image before publishing or projecting it.