PowerPoint SmartArt Can Now Explain Diagram Relationships

PowerPoint SmartArt accessibility is getting a major upgrade, giving screen reader users more useful information about how diagram elements connect.

Not long ago, PowerPoint was expanded with new themes and layouts. Microsoft is now improving SmartArt for users who rely on assistive technologies.

PowerPoint SmartArt Can Now Explain Diagram Structure

Microsoft is improving SmartArt accessibility in PowerPoint by adding automatically generated semantic descriptions.

Previously, screen readers could detect a SmartArt object and read its individual text elements. However, they could not explain how those elements related to one another.

That limitation made diagrams such as hierarchies, processes, and relationships harder to understand without seeing them.

Manual Alt Text Was Previously Required

PowerPoint’s Accessibility Checker previously encouraged authors to manually add alt text to SmartArt diagrams.

That approach created another problem. If someone edited, rearranged, or expanded the SmartArt graphic, the manually written description could become inaccurate.

Authors also had to remember to update the alt text every time the diagram changed.

PowerPoint Now Updates SmartArt Descriptions Automatically

PowerPoint can now generate descriptions that explain the structure and relationships represented by SmartArt.

Microsoft exposes this information through the accessibility tree, allowing screen readers and other assistive technologies to access it.

The description also changes automatically when users update the SmartArt diagram.

This means authors no longer need to manually maintain descriptions as diagrams evolve.

Microsoft Continues Improving Accessibility Features

Microsoft has also introduced AI-powered automatic alt text in Word and PowerPoint, including support on Copilot+ PCs.

However, Microsoft has not said that generative AI powers the new SmartArt semantic descriptions.

The SmartArt improvement instead focuses on programmatically exposing the structure already present inside the diagram.

The enhanced SmartArt accessibility experience is available in PowerPoint for Windows starting with Version 2503, Build 19729.20000.

Microsoft continues making changes across its productivity apps as well. A new OneDrive Sync Engine should also improve syncing performance.