SEO HERO AI Alt Text Generator
Product Update July 2026
-
By
Mike
- Updated: July 31, 2026
- 15 min read
-
By
Mike
- Updated: July 31, 2026
- 15 min read
SEO HERO Update: Smarter AI, Better Store Scans, and Smoother Bulk Alt Text Workflows
This month’s updates are focused on one thing: helping Shopify merchants generate better alt text with less manual checking, fewer missed images, and a cleaner in-app experience.
What’s new
New AI model tiers for better alt text control
SEO HERO now supports new AI model tiers, giving merchants more control over the balance between generation quality and credit usage. New stores are also guided toward improved default settings, while existing stores keep their current behavior unless they choose to update.
Why it matters: You can use stronger AI generation where detail matters most, while keeping everyday bulk work efficient.
Smarter generation using product descriptions, product type, and filename context
Alt text generation can now use more Shopify product context, including product descriptions, product type, and configurable filename clues. We also improved custom instruction enforcement, including character limits, forbidden terms, and merchant-specific writing rules.
Why it matters: Better context means alt text is more likely to sound accurate, natural, and relevant to the actual product — not just the image pixels.
AI Settings Validator helps prevent weak or conflicting settings
We added a smarter settings review flow that checks whether your generation preferences are usable and flags settings that may conflict with your selected sources or plan. Recommendations can be reviewed before applying, so merchants stay in control.
Why it matters: Merchants can catch setup issues before running a large batch, reducing wasted credits and avoiding inconsistent output.
Store Scan and Auto-Pilot now cover more Shopify image opportunities
We improved Store Scan and Auto-Pilot coverage so SEO HERO can identify more images that need attention, including images affected by recent Shopify-side changes and broader content image workflows.
Why it matters: Missing alt text is not always limited to product images. Homepage banners, theme imagery, and content assets can also affect accessibility and image SEO.
Bulk generation now refreshes your Store Scan after the work is done
After bulk alt text generation, SEO HERO can now trigger a follow-up Store Scan automatically, including when merchants leave the app. When you return, your scan status and image metadata are reconciled so results stay more current.
Why it matters: You should not have to babysit a bulk job or manually refresh to see progress reflected in your SEO Health results.
Cleaner Shopify-native onboarding and settings
We cleaned up the onboarding experience, reduced banner clutter, improved the Shopify admin navigation, added clearer setup guidance, and polished the Settings page using more consistent Shopify-native interface patterns.
Why it matters: New merchants can get to their first successful alt text generation faster, while existing merchants get a cleaner, less distracting workflow.
Recent fixes and polish
- Fixed SEO Health filter dropdowns so they stay visible above the Google Search Console keyword gaps banner.
- Fixed external Shopify Admin links in the Images ALT Text table so they open correctly.
- Fixed Auto-Pilot failures caused by large Shopify GraphQL query costs.
- Fixed Settings page alignment issues, including clipped dropdown labels and misaligned checkbox/toggle controls.
- Improved bulk workflow reliability so updated results and resolved states stay in sync more consistently.
- Improved support widget and ticket fallback behavior so merchants can still reach support more reliably.
- Improved billing and credit handling for plan changes and grandfathered plans.
AI Alt Text Generator helps Shopify merchants generate SEO-friendly, accessible image alt text faster—using product context, brand voice, and keywords.
Hey, I’m Mike Belanger, a business enthusiast with over 15 years of experience in designing, web and app development, business management, digital marketing, customer psychology and optimizing businesses. I love making businesses grow and operate smoother.