# AI image captions

Source: https://social9.com/docs/engage/ai-image-captions

> Let the AI look at a photo and write a caption in your brand voice, hashtags and alt text, from a connected AI app or the API.

The AI can look at a photo and write three things: a caption in your brand voice, a few hashtags, and alt text that describes the picture for people who use screen readers.

**Which plan:** Individual, Team, Agency and Enterprise (connecting AI apps is a paid-plan feature).

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## Where to find it

There is no button for it in the dashboard yet. You use it from a connected AI app (such as Claude or ChatGPT) or through the API. The photo must be at a public https link, for example one from your **Library**.

![The Library, where your photos are kept](https://social9.com/docs/screenshots/library.png)

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## How to use it from an AI app

1. Connect your AI app to Social9. See [Connect Claude](https://social9.com/docs/ai-apps/connect-claude) or [Connect ChatGPT](https://social9.com/docs/ai-apps/connect-chatgpt).
2. Give the app a public https link to the photo, and say which brand and network it's for.
3. Ask it to write a caption, hashtags and alt text. The app uses the `describe_image` tool.
4. Read the result and change it before you post.

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## How it works

- It describes only what it can see. It doesn't guess names, places, prices or dates.
- The caption fits the network you pick, and uses the brand's voice and language when you name a brand.
- The alt text is plain and literal, without hashtags.

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## For developers

`POST /api/v1/ai/describe-image` with `{ "mediaUrl": "https://…", "network": "instagram", "brandId": "…" }` returns `{ caption, hashtags, altText, creditsUsed }`.

`POST /api/v1/ai/analytics-summary` with `{ "days": 30, "brandId": "…" }` returns a plain-English summary of your last period compared with the one before. It also uses one post's worth of credits.

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## Good to know

- Each photo uses the same credits as writing one post (4 credits). If the AI fails, nothing is charged.
- It works with photos only. For a video, use a still image from it.
- The link must be public and start with `https://`.
- You need permission to use AI for that brand (Owner, Admin or Editor).
- No network approval is needed: it only writes text, it doesn't post anything.

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## Related

- [Tools reference](https://social9.com/docs/ai-apps/tools-reference)
- [Brand voice](https://social9.com/docs/brand/brand-voice)
- [Images and video](https://social9.com/docs/posts/images-and-video)
- [Credits and usage](https://social9.com/docs/account/credits-and-usage)