How to Use AI to Create Presentations — Step-by-Step With Prompts
Most presentation pain isn't about design — it's about structure. What goes on each slide? In what order? What do you say? AI solves the structure problem fast. You can go from raw notes or a topic to a full slide outline in minutes, then spend your time on the details that actually need your judgment.
Why it matters: A presentation with a clear structure is easier to build, easier to deliver, and easier to follow. AI gets you to a solid first structure in a fraction of the time it takes to work it out from scratch.
Step-by-step guide
Follow these steps to get the best results from AI for this task.
Define the goal before you open any slides
Before you touch presentation software, ask: what does this audience need to believe, decide, or do after this presentation? Write that in one sentence. This becomes the north star for your entire structure. Feed it to AI along with your topic to get a focused outline.
Create a presentation outline for a [X]-minute presentation about [topic]. Audience: [describe who they are and what they care about]. Goal: [what you need them to believe/decide/do]. Include slide titles and one bullet per slide covering the key point.
Build the outline first, slides second
Have AI generate a structured outline — title, main sections, slide-by-slide key points — before you open PowerPoint or Google Slides. Review and adjust the outline until the story flows logically. Only then build the slides. This order prevents the "I have 40 slides and no idea what the point is" problem.
Write speaker notes with AI
Speaker notes are where most presentations fall apart — either empty or so dense they become a script you read word-for-word. Ask AI to write conversational speaker notes for each slide: 2-4 sentences that explain the point naturally, anticipate audience questions, and set up the next slide.
Write speaker notes for this slide: Slide title: [title]. Key visual: [what's on the slide]. My main point: [what I want to convey]. Keep it conversational, 3 sentences, and include a transition to the next slide about [next topic].
Translate data into plain-English insights
If your presentation includes data or metrics, AI helps you turn numbers into sentences. "Sales grew 22% in Q3, driven primarily by the enterprise segment" is easier to follow than a table of numbers. Paste your data and ask AI to write the 2-3 most important takeaway sentences.
Here is data from our Q3 report: [paste data]. Write 3 plain-English sentences that capture the most important insights. Audience: [describe]. Avoid jargon.
Create an executive summary slide
Decision-makers often skim or only see the first few slides. Ask AI to write a single executive summary slide that covers: the situation, the main finding, and the recommended action. This slide should stand alone if someone only sees one slide from your deck.
Write an executive summary slide for a presentation about [topic]. Include: situation (1 sentence), main finding (1-2 sentences), recommended action (1 sentence). Audience: [senior leaders/clients/board]. Keep it to 5 bullet points max.
Copy-paste prompts
Use these in ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini. Replace the [brackets] with your own details.
Create a [X]-slide outline for a presentation on [topic]. Audience: [who]. Goal: [what they need to do/believe after]. Include slide titles and one key point per slide.
Write conversational speaker notes for this slide: Title: [title]. Bullet points: [list]. My point: [what I want them to take away]. 3 sentences, natural delivery, end with a transition to the next slide about [topic].
Here's my data: [paste data]. Write 3 plain-English sentences about the most important insights. No jargon. Audience: [describe].
Write an executive summary slide for a presentation about [topic]. Cover: situation, key finding, and recommended action. Max 5 bullets. Audience: decision-makers who will only read one slide.
Write an opening for a presentation about [topic]. Audience: [describe]. Goal: get their attention in the first 30 seconds. Use a specific fact, question, or short scenario — no generic openers.
Frequently asked questions
Can AI actually build slides in PowerPoint or Google Slides?
Some tools (like Gamma, Beautiful.ai, or Microsoft Copilot in PowerPoint) generate actual slides. ChatGPT and Claude produce outlines and text that you then paste into your slide tool. Both approaches work — the AI-native slide tools save time on design; the text-first approach gives you more control.
How many slides should I use?
A good rule: one key point per slide, and never more slides than minutes in your presentation. For a 10-minute talk, aim for 8-12 slides. AI will often give you too many slides in the first draft — ask it to cut to the minimum needed to tell the story.
Can AI help me simplify a technical presentation for a non-technical audience?
Yes — and this is one of AI's best uses. Paste your technical content and ask it to rewrite it for a specific audience (like senior management or clients with no technical background). Specify what jargon to avoid and what analogies might help.
What if my presentation is confidential?
Replace specific numbers, names, and identifiers with placeholders before pasting. AI doesn't need the actual figures to structure a presentation or write speaker notes — it works fine with "our revenue grew X%" instead of real numbers.
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