Teaching AI how to PowerPoint!

When I talk about my business, one question I get asked a lot is: “What actually is AI training?”

It’s a broad term, and the answer can look quite different depending on the project. In my case, part of my current work involves training AI to recognise what makes a good PowerPoint slide. I do this by evaluating AI-generated slides against a specific prompt and a set of template slides, and rating how well they meet the brief.

So, what does that actually involve?

Where do I start?

The process starts with the client uploading PowerPoint decks into a dedicated portal. These are then released to me for review, along with the information I need to assess the AI-generated slides.

Depending on the task, I’m provided with the prompt, the generated slides and the relevant template slides. I use these together to assess how well the AI has interpreted the brief and applied the intended visual style.

As I review each slide, I consider things like:

• Does it fulfil the prompt?

• Is the key information immediately clear?

• Is the layout balanced and easy to follow?

• Are typography, colour and spacing being used effectively?

• Are the images and graphics relevant and high quality?

• Does it feel professionally designed?

  
  

The goal isn’t simply to decide whether a slide “looks good”. It’s about whether the design is clear, effective and appropriate for the content, and whether it helps the audience understand the information quickly.

Ranking the slides

Once I’ve reviewed the slides, I rank them on a 1–7 scale, where 1 is unusable and 7 is excellent.

The rating takes into account the overall aesthetic, how closely the slide follows the prompt and template, and whether the design feels clear, balanced and professional. I also provide a detailed explanation of why I’ve given each slide its particular rating.

The aim isn’t to choose the slide I personally like most. It’s about making a consistent judgement based on the criteria provided and identifying which outputs work best.

Once the slides have been assessed and ranked, I submit the results back to the client. This feedback then becomes part of the wider AI training process, helping the system learn which design choices produce stronger results and, ultimately, create more effective PowerPoint slides.

Why are humans trainers needed?

If AI can create and assess PowerPoint slides, why is a human needed in the process?

The answer is experience and judgement.

I’ve spent decades writing, creating, viewing and assessing PowerPoint presentations, including student presentations. Over that time, I’ve developed a strong understanding of what makes a presentation clear, engaging and visually effective - and, just as importantly, what makes one confusing, cluttered or difficult to follow.

AI can generate a slide in seconds, but understanding whether that slide communicates its message effectively still requires human judgement. My role is to apply that experience consistently, turning those visual and communication instincts into useful feedback that helps AI produce better results.

A human-designed PowerPoint (written and presented by yours truly!), which was award-winning!