The explosion of AI-generative tools has not yet proved to be a boon for education. Questions about accuracy and bias are secondary to the main issue: Do AI generative tools help teachers teach and students learn? The jury is still out on this question. Nevertheless, I embarked on a journey to explore the free AI slide-generating platforms available, hoping to discover gold—or at least bitcoin.
What I actually discovered is more like lead than gold. While each of the free platforms include some useful features, none combine substantial utility with the ability for a free download. Still, a few come close enough to be worth trying.
Educators may also consider using a separate free AI image generator instead of accepting the uneven selection provided by the AI slide generators.
HOW WE TESTED
Each AI-assisted slide generator was tested with the prompt “Causes of the American Revolution.” Platforms were assessed based on the educational quality of text and images in the presentations, ease of use and features. We tested only the free version of each platform.
PROS:
Curipod’s intuitive workflow makes it easy to get started creating an AI-generated slide presentation, while the option to select grade and standards allows teachers to tailor slide decks to student’s needs. Interactive features such as polls and brain breaks keep kids paying attention. Free templates are available to spark ideas or save time.
CONS:
No download with free account. Presentations may be more like assessments than lessons for learning. Lesson differentiation by grade isn’t always effective. Images are modern.
GRADE: B
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PROS:
Professional-looking slides with stylish animation effects. Each slide can be edited for text and images. Users can import documents or a PDF to create slide decks. Text, while concise, is quite informative.
CONS:
Images are quite modern and include laptops light bulbs and clip art. Heavy computer memory use. No free download.
GRADE: B-
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PROS:
Simplified provided a few images relevant to the era, along with moderately informative text. A library of animation effects as well as links to free image databases allows teachers to further enrich their presentations. In addition to the sharable link, users can export their presentations as a video, png, PDF, jpg, gif, or svg.
CONS:
In a 10-slide presentation, one image was used six times. While the text is moderately informative, it also bears the hallmarks of AI-generated text; that is, lots of complete grammatical sentences that are too vague or general to be educational.
GRADE: C
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PROS:
No account or login is required to get started with SlidesGPT’s free basic plan. The slideshow’s text content was by far the most comprehensive and educational of all the generators. Images include at least some that are era-relevant. Don’t care for the images? Repeat your prompt, and a new set will be produced. SlidesGPT also offers a terrific single-use option: For a modest $2.50, download your presentation as editable PowerPoint, Google slide, or PDF.
CONS:
Users can’t edit at all without downloading. Slides, while informative, are text-heavy. Many modern images included.
GRADE: B+
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PROS:
Easy to use once installed, Slides.ai provided moderately informative, concise text. while the “MagicWrite” feature offers the option to search for royalty-free images, icons, citations and emojis. To paraphrase existing text, simply highlight and click on “Paraphrase Sentences” within MagicWrite. But the best feature of free Slides.ai is the ability to download an editable PowerPoint presentation.
CONS:
The annoying insistence that users must synchronize Chrome and Google accounts in order to implement SlidesAI.io may add a few minutes to the installation time. Images included the bizarrely inappropriate snow monkeys accompanying the “Intolerable Acts” slide. Blank slides are included in the presentation. Free plan limit of three presentations per month.
GRADE: D+
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