Image descriptions determine whether the information captured in a visual reaches machines. Models today can process images, but in an environment where content is picked out quickly and by passage, text has a clear advantage. The practical consequence is unpleasant for companies that put key data into infographics and tables saved as an image – these cannot be cited and will not appear in answers. The solution is simple: add descriptive alt text to every informational image, stating what is shown in it, not just that it is a chart. Beneath a chart or infographic, add a one-sentence summary of the main finding, and state the figures in the text as well or in a real table too. This gets you accessibility, visibility, and more comprehensible content.
See also: Table as a citable format, Image optimisation, Citability of documents and PDFs.
