SmartDescribe Lite – AI & APIs

AI Provider Setup and API Configuration

1. Overview

SmartDescribe Lite uses Google Gemini AI to generate alternative text (alt text) for WooCommerce product featured images.

To use the plugin, you need a Google Gemini API key. Once configured, SmartDescribe Lite can send product image information to Gemini to generate descriptive alt text that you can use to improve image accessibility and help search engines understand your product images.

SmartDescribe Lite supports Google Gemini only. Support for additional AI providers, including OpenAI and Anthropic Claude, is available in SmartDescribe Pro.

2. What You Need

Before configuring the AI provider, make sure you have:

  • WordPress administrator access.
  • WooCommerce installed and activated.
  • SmartDescribe Lite installed and activated.
  • A Google account to access Google AI Studio.
  • A Google Gemini API key.

Important: SmartDescribe Lite cannot generate AI alt text until a valid API key has been configured.

3. Get Your Google Gemini API Key

Follow these steps to obtain an API key.

  1. Open Google AI Studio.
  2. Sign in with your Google account.
  3. Navigate to the API key section.
  4. Create or select an API key, following Google’s on-screen instructions.
  5. Copy the API key and store it somewhere secure until you are ready to configure the plugin.

You can access the API key page here:

https://aistudio.google.com/apikey

Google may change its interface or API access requirements over time, so follow the instructions currently displayed in Google AI Studio.

Keep your API key private. Do not publish it on your website, include it in public support requests, or share it with people who do not need access to it.

4. Enter the API Key in SmartDescribe Lite

Once you have your API key, configure the plugin in WordPress.

  1. Sign in to your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Navigate to SmartDescribe Lite → Settings.
  3. Locate the Google Gemini API key field.
  4. Paste your API key into the field.
  5. Review your other settings, including writing tone and character limit.
  6. Click the button to save your settings.

SmartDescribe Lite provides a Test Connection button to help you check whether the plugin can connect to the AI provider.

Important: Save your settings before testing the connection. The plugin’s settings screen specifically instructs you to save the settings first.

5. Test the Connection

After saving your API key:

  1. Return to SmartDescribe Lite → Settings, if necessary.
  2. Confirm that your API key has been saved.
  3. Click Test Connection.
  4. Review the result displayed by the plugin.

If the connection test succeeds, the plugin has been able to establish a connection with the AI provider.

If the test fails, check the troubleshooting steps below before trying again.

A successful connection test does not guarantee that every future generation request will succeed. API access, usage limits, network conditions and provider availability can affect individual requests.

6. Configure Your Writing Preferences

SmartDescribe Lite includes settings that influence the generated alt text.

Writing Tone

Choose the tone that best suits your product catalogue:

  • Professional: A straightforward, businesslike description.
  • Friendly: Approachable wording with a natural tone.
  • Descriptive: Emphasises useful visual details.
  • Concise: Favours short, direct descriptions.

Choose a tone that matches your store’s brand and the way you describe products to customers.

Character Limit

Use the character limit setting to control the intended length of generated alt text. The available setting range is 50–500 characters.

For many product images, a concise description that communicates the most useful visual information is a good starting point. The ideal length depends on the image and the product.

The character limit is a configuration preference, not a guarantee that every generated description will be equally useful. Review the results to ensure that the alt text remains accurate and readable.

7. Run a Test Optimisation

After the connection test succeeds, try SmartDescribe Lite on an individual product before processing a larger selection.

  1. Navigate to SmartDescribe Lite → Products.
  2. Find a product with a featured image.
  3. Run the available optimisation action for that product.
  4. Wait for the operation to finish.
  5. Review the generated alt text and check that it accurately describes the image.

Check that the description is relevant, natural and appropriate for the product. Correct any inaccurate or unnecessary wording before relying on it.

Once you are satisfied with the result, you can use the plugin’s bulk optimisation functionality to process selected products.

8. Troubleshooting Connection Problems

If SmartDescribe Lite cannot connect to Google Gemini, work through the following checks.

Invalid or Incorrect API Key

Possible cause: The API key was copied incorrectly, is invalid, or is no longer usable.

What to do:

  1. Return to Google AI Studio.
  2. Check that the key is available and correctly copied.
  3. Paste the key into the plugin’s API key field again.
  4. Save the settings.
  5. Run the connection test again.

Avoid sharing the API key when asking for help.

Settings Were Not Saved

Possible cause: The connection test was run before saving the API key.

What to do:

  1. Open SmartDescribe Lite → Settings.
  2. Enter or confirm the API key.
  3. Save the settings.
  4. Click Test Connection again.

API Access or Usage Limits

Possible cause: The Google account, API key or project may not have the required access, or a usage limit may have been reached.

What to do:

  1. Check the API key and project details in Google AI Studio.
  2. Review any usage-limit or access messages provided by Google.
  3. Confirm that the API is available for your account and intended use.
  4. Retry after resolving any provider-side restrictions.

API pricing, quotas and access requirements can vary. Check Google’s current terms and limits rather than assuming that API use is unlimited or free.

Network or Server Problems

Possible cause: Your WordPress server cannot reach the provider, or a temporary network or service issue is preventing the request.

What to do:

  1. Retry the connection test.
  2. Check whether your hosting provider restricts outgoing API requests.
  3. Check for relevant server or PHP errors.
  4. Contact your hosting provider if the server appears unable to reach the API.

Connection Test Succeeds, but Generation Fails

Possible cause: The connection works, but a particular generation request is failing because of image access, provider limits, request processing or another issue.

What to do:

  1. Try a different product with a featured image.
  2. Confirm that the product image is available and displays correctly in WordPress.
  3. Check for any error message returned by the plugin.
  4. Review provider usage limits and availability.
  5. Retry the operation.

If the issue persists, record the error message and the steps that caused it. Remove API keys, credentials and other sensitive information before sharing diagnostic details with support.

9. API Key Security

Your API key authorises requests to the AI provider, so protect it as you would any other credential.

  • Keep the key private.
  • Do not place it in public pages, product descriptions or public code repositories.
  • Limit access to WordPress administrator accounts to trusted users.
  • Review your Google AI Studio settings and usage if you suspect the key has been exposed.
  • Follow Google’s instructions for revoking or replacing a compromised key.

SmartDescribe Lite stores its API key through the WordPress plugin settings. Protect access to your WordPress administration area and keep WordPress, WooCommerce and your plugins updated.

10. Understanding AI Provider Support

SmartDescribe Lite is designed around Google Gemini. It does not provide a provider selector for switching between different AI services.

SmartDescribe Pro adds support for additional AI providers, including OpenAI GPT and Anthropic Claude, along with other advanced optimisation features.

If you are using SmartDescribe Lite, configure a Google Gemini API key to use its AI alt text generation features.

11. Before You Finish

Use this checklist to confirm that your setup is ready:

  • SmartDescribe Lite is installed and activated.
  • WooCommerce is active.
  • A Google Gemini API key has been obtained.
  • The API key has been entered and saved in the plugin settings.
  • The connection test has been run successfully.
  • Your preferred writing tone and character limit have been selected.
  • An individual product has been tested.
  • The generated alt text has been reviewed for accuracy.

Once these steps are complete, SmartDescribe Lite is ready for normal use.

Next guide: SmartDescribe Lite — Individual Product Optimisation.