Making a good presentation takes a fair bit of work. First, you have to plan it. Then you’ve got to write your slides and find the right visuals. And of course, you’ve got to make the whole thing look good too.
AI to the rescue. It’s there to help with all of those jobs and then some. Fire up your favourite and you can use it to turn a rough idea into a full-on, flashy deck. One thing AI can’t do just yet though is stand up and give the presentation for you. For that part, you’ll still have to do it the old fashioned way!
What is AI presentation creation?
AI presentation creation is exactly what it sounds like. It’s where you use artificial intelligence to make a deck of slides.
You give an AI tool some instructions, known as a prompt. It then uses those pointers to create some content. Depending on the tool you use, that might be anything from text to layouts and even images.
For example, Microsoft Copilot in PowerPoint can draft an entire presentation from just a few words. It’s also able to create one using an existing document as its source.
The key word here is draft. As advanced as it is, AI does make mistakes. So, always check the finished slides yourself before you put them in front of anyone.
How does AI help create presentations?
Sat staring at a blank slide? AI’s there to get you going. Ask it to brainstorm some topics or turn a thought into a clear presentation outline. Once you’re happy with the plan, you can then use it to draft the text for each of the slides.
That’s not all though. It’ll also suggest designs and create images entirely from scratch. And if you’re ever forgetful while you present, use it to jot down some speaker notes for you too. Ultimately, this all means you’ll spend less time building slides and more making them your own.
What AI tools can you use to create presentations?
There are loads of options out there worth trying…
Microsoft Copilot – Built into PowerPoint (if you’ve got access to it). It’ll help you create, edit and sum up whole presentations.
PowerPoint Designer – Helps to improve the layout and look of PowerPoint slides.
Google Gemini – Use it in Slides, and it’ll generate and edit individual slides from your prompts.
Canva AI – Make epic looking designs with a suite of powerful AI features.
AI presentation generators – These dedicated tools take written prompts and turn them into a finished slide deck.
AI image generators – Handy when you need a custom visual for a slide. Especially so when you can’t find one elsewhere!
The features are going to differ depending on your account, subscription and the version of the app you’ve got. So, check what’s actually included before you start creating.
How to create a presentation using AI
Here’s a simple way to get started:
Pick your topic – Decide what the presentation needs to explain.
Write a prompt – Tell the AI what you want, who it’s for and how long it should be.
Create an outline – Come up with a clear structure before you start talking about individual slides.
Draft your slides – Use the outline to create short, focused slides.
Add visuals – Ask for some suitable image ideas or generate new graphics.
Check everything – Don’t forget to review it. Check that facts, figures and your sources are all correct before you present them.
Don’t worry if the first result doesn’t absolutely nail it. Change up your prompts and try again.
How to write effective AI prompts for presentations
If you feed a vague prompt into your AI, you’re going to get a vague answer back. So, give the AI enough detail to understand what you’re asking from it.
Instead of…
“Make a presentation about electric cars.”
Try…
“Create an eight-slide presentation explaining electric cars to beginners. Use simple language. Cover how electric cars work, charging, running costs and other common questions. Give each slide a short title and no more than four bullet points.”
Tech tip: If the result feels too long, ask the AI to shorten it. If a slide isn’t clear, tell it what needs changing.
Can AI create presentation images and graphics?
Yes! Some AI tools can easily create images and other visuals to go with your presentation. Take Gemini for instance. In Google Slides, it’ll generate original images when you give it a few key details. Others will make charts, icons and diagrams. Basically, whatever you need, you’re covered.
Treat any pictures with the same care as the written stuff. Keep an eye out for odd details or wrong labels. And if a chart is based on real data, check the figures yourself against the original source. Then you’ll know if they’re accurate or not.
What are the benefits of using AI for presentations?
Speed is probably its biggest perk. AI can create a great starting point for you in seconds.
It’ll also help you to…
Organise messy notes into a simple structure.
Keep the look and tone of your slides consistent.
Sum up long pages of text.
Come up with cool visual ideas.
Get past that “where do I start?” feeling.
Let AI do the groundwork. Then spend your time checking the details and polishing things up a bit.
What are the limitations of AI-generated presentations?
As helpful as AI is, it isn’t always right. For starters, it might give you facts and figures that are just plain wrong. Canva, for example, warns that its AI results could contain mistakes and suggests reviewing any data or info that it generates. You should do this with any AI tool you choose to use.
The writing is sometimes super generic too. This means your presentation isn’t going to sound like you (making it a lot less genuine). And generic equals boring. You don’t want your audience to switch off halfway through your talk.
How can students use AI for presentations?
AI will turn your research into an outline, explain tricky ideas (in a simple way) or organise revision notes into clean looking slides.
Just make sure to check, check and check again. We’ve said that AI facts aren’t always correct, so compare them with reliable sources to make sure you’re not including things in your work that’s wrong.
But AI shouldn’t do the learning for you. Otherwise, you’re not actually gaining any knowledge yourself. And, if that’s the case, why bother with college or uni?
Tech tip: Every school, college or uni is going to have their own rules on AI. If it’s banned, don’t use it. If there’s an approved list of tools you’re able to use, go for it.
How can businesses use AI for presentations?
At work, AI will have you flying through your to-do list. Use it to create first drafts, pitches, training decks and more.
You’ve already got a report? Ask AI to pull out the main points. Need to explain a techy subject to the wider team? Ask it to rewrite the document in plain English. Whatever the job is, AI is going to make it speedier and easier.
Tech tip: Remember to follow your company’s AI and data policies. You don’t want to get into trouble. Or even worse – fired!
How to protect your privacy while using AI tools
Before you paste anything into an AI system, have a quick think about what you’re sharing. And check the tool’s privacy settings and terms too. Data policies aren’t going to be the same across every AI assistant out there.
Avoid entering passwords, financial details or sensitive personal information. And be extremely careful with confidential work files and information about other people. If these things end up in the wrong hands, that’s when things could go really, really wrong.
Are AI created presentations secure?
That depends on the AI tool and the data you decide to give it. A good rule is to not feed anything into it that you wouldn’t share with a stranger.
Business-focused AI does sometimes come with extra controls and settings designed to keep confidential details safe. Microsoft say that Copilot has increased protections - like extra layers of encryption – that are there to protect the info that goes into it. But always take that with a pinch of salt - remember, data leaks do happen!
Whatever you choose to use, check the current privacy policy before uploading sensitive info (or better yet, don’t share any at all). It’ll likely be different on each of the AI assistants that you use.
Tips for creating better presentations with AI
Here’s a few handy pointers for when you’re making your next presentation…
Be specific. Tell the AI exactly what you need.
Check your facts. Don’t assume a confident answer is a correct one.
Add your own knowledge. Real examples and first-hand experience will make your slides more useful.
Keep slides simple. Ask AI to cut down the text if a slide starts to get crowded.
Use visuals with a purpose. An image should help to explain your point, not just fill an empty corner.
Do a final edit. Read your deck over from start to finish. Look for repetition and anything that doesn’t sound like you.
Should you use AI to create presentations?
AI is a very, very useful assistant when you’re working on a new presentation. It’s great for planning a structure, drafting some writing and getting ideas onto the page quickly. Just don’t hand over the whole job to it. Your knowledge still matters here – and so does your judgment. Use AI to make the first draft, then check the facts and put your own stamp on it before you present it.
FAQs
Does AI keep your data private?
It depends on the tool and account you’re using. Privacy rules vary across the board, so have a read of the provider’s policy and check your settings before you start putting any information into it.
How do you use AI without giving out your data?
Only enter details that the AI needs for that particular task. Remove names and sensitive details where possible. And to be 100% safe, don’t share any passwords or confidential files with it.
What is the safest AI to use?
There isn’t one AI tool that’s automatically safest. Instead, look for clear privacy terms, strong security and settings that let you manage your data. For work or education, stick to tools that have actually been approved.
What should you be careful of when using AI?
Watch out for inaccurate information and fake sources. Think carefully before uploading any private data too.
Need more advice?
We’ve got loads of AI advice for you to check out here on TechTalk. Does AI use a lot of energy? Get the answers right here. And, if you’re a student, here’s how using AI for writing essays makes that next hand-in even easier!
