> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.getalai.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Getting Started > Build AI-powered presentation generation into your applications with the Alai API. [Alai](https://www.getalai.com) transforms how teams create presentations. Instead of spending hours in PowerPoint, describe what you need and get professionally designed slides in seconds. The **Alai API** brings this power to your applications. Generate presentations programmatically, integrate with your workflows, and automate slide creation at scale. We also support the [Model Context Protocol (MCP)](/api/mcp) for seamless integration with MCP clients like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code, and the [Agent2Agent (A2A) protocol](/api/a2a) for autonomous agents that need to delegate presentation editing to Alai. API Introduction *** ## What You Can Build Turn text, notes, or documents into complete slide decks with AI-powered design Programmatically add new slides to existing presentations Get shareable links, PDFs, or PowerPoint files Get structured content and layout information from slides *** ## How It Works Sign up at [app.getalai.com](https://app.getalai.com) and generate an API key from your account settings. POST to `/generations` with your text content. You'll receive a `generation_id` immediately. Check `GET /generations/{id}` every few seconds until status is `completed`. Get shareable links, download PDFs, or export to PowerPoint from the response. *** ## Quick Example ```python Python theme={null} import requests import time API_KEY = "your_api_key" BASE_URL = "https://slides-api.getalai.com/api/v1" # 1. Generate presentation response = requests.post( f"{BASE_URL}/generations", headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}"}, json={ "input_text": "Q4 revenue grew 25%. Key wins: Enterprise deals and product launches.", "presentation_options": {"title": "Q4 Results", "slide_range": "6-10"}, "export_formats": ["link", "pdf"] } ) generation_id = response.json()["generation_id"] # 2. Poll until complete while True: status = requests.get( f"{BASE_URL}/generations/{generation_id}", headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}"} ).json() if status["status"] == "completed": print(f"View: {status['formats']['link']['url']}") print(f"PDF: {status['formats']['pdf']['url']}") break elif status["status"] == "failed": raise Exception(status.get("error")) time.sleep(3) ``` ```bash cURL theme={null} # 1. Generate presentation curl -X POST "https://slides-api.getalai.com/api/v1/generations" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "input_text": "Q4 revenue grew 25%. Key wins: Enterprise deals and product launches.", "presentation_options": {"title": "Q4 Results", "slide_range": "6-10"}, "export_formats": ["link", "pdf"] }' # Response: {"generation_id": "abc123-..."} # 2. Poll for status curl "https://slides-api.getalai.com/api/v1/generations/abc123-..." \ -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" ``` ```javascript JavaScript theme={null} const API_KEY = "your_api_key"; const BASE_URL = "https://slides-api.getalai.com/api/v1"; // 1. Generate presentation const response = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/generations`, { method: "POST", headers: { "Authorization": `Bearer ${API_KEY}`, "Content-Type": "application/json" }, body: JSON.stringify({ input_text: "Q4 revenue grew 25%. Key wins: Enterprise deals and product launches.", presentation_options: { title: "Q4 Results", slide_range: "6-10" }, export_formats: ["link", "pdf"] }) }); const { generation_id } = await response.json(); // 2. Poll until complete const poll = async () => { while (true) { const res = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/generations/${generation_id}`, { headers: { "Authorization": `Bearer ${API_KEY}` } }); const status = await res.json(); if (status.status === "completed") { console.log("View:", status.formats.link.url); console.log("PDF:", status.formats.pdf.url); return status; } else if (status.status === "failed") { throw new Error(status.error); } await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 3000)); } }; await poll(); ``` *** ## Get Your API Key 1. **Sign up** at [app.getalai.com](https://app.getalai.com) 2. **Click on your name** in the left sidebar 3. **Select "API"** from the dropdown menu 4. **Click "Add new API key"** to generate your key 5. **Copy and securely store** your API key Keep your API key secure and never share it publicly. Treat it like a password. *** ## Authentication All requests require a Bearer token in the `Authorization` header: ```bash theme={null} Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY ``` **Base URL:** ``` https://slides-api.getalai.com/api/v1 ``` *** ## Available Endpoints ### Async Operations These endpoints return a `generation_id`. Poll `GET /generations/{id}` until complete. | Endpoint | Method | Description | | --------------------------------- | ------ | ------------------------------------- | | `/generations` | POST | Generate a presentation from text | | `/presentations/{id}/slides` | POST | Add a slide to a presentation | | `/presentations/{id}/exports` | POST | Export to PDF, PPT, or shareable link | | `/presentations/{id}/transcripts` | POST | Extract slide content and layout | ### Synchronous Operations These endpoints return results immediately. | Endpoint | Method | Description | | --------------------------------------- | ------ | --------------------------------------------------------- | | `/ping` | GET | Verify your API key | | `/themes` | GET | List theme IDs and names available to your account | | `/vibes` | GET | List vibe IDs, names, and source for visual style presets | | `/generations/{id}` | GET | Check generation status | | `/upload-images` | POST | Upload images for presentations | | `/presentations/{id}/slides/{slide_id}` | DELETE | Delete a slide | | `/presentations/{id}` | DELETE | Delete a presentation | *** ## Generation Status When polling, you'll see one of these status values: | Status | Description | | ------------- | ------------------------------------ | | `pending` | Queued, not yet started | | `in_progress` | Currently processing | | `completed` | Finished successfully | | `failed` | Error occurred (check `error` field) | Poll every 5 seconds. Most generations complete within 1-3 minutes depending on slide count. *** ## Available Themes Use `GET /themes` to discover the theme IDs and display names available to the authenticated user, including system themes and any user themes you can access. Theme selection now primarily uses `theme_id` values returned by that endpoint. Legacy theme display names are still accepted for backward compatibility, but they are deprecated. See the [Get Themes](/api/get-themes) reference for the response format and example usage. *** ## Vibes A **vibe** is a visual aesthetic preset (mood, palette, illustration style) applied to creative slide variants. Pass `presentation_options.vibe_id` on a generation request to use one. Use `GET /vibes` to discover the vibe IDs available to your account, including system vibes and any custom vibes you have created. When `vibe_id` is set, you must also set `image_options.num_image_variants >= 1` — vibes are applied through creative image variants. See the [Get Vibes](/api/get-vibes) reference for the response format and example usage. *** ## Rate Limits * **Max 5 concurrent generations** per user * Recommended polling interval: 5 seconds Need higher rate limits? Reach out to the Alai team at [founders@getalai.com](mailto:founders@getalai.com). *** ## Credits API generations consume the same credits as the [Alai app](https://www.getalai.com). To check your balance or purchase more credits: * Go to **Settings** in your [Alai account](https://app.getalai.com) * Or contact [founders@getalai.com](mailto:founders@getalai.com) for enterprise plans *** ## Error Handling | Code | Description | | ----- | ----------------------------------------- | | `200` | Success | | `400` | Bad Request - Invalid parameters | | `401` | Unauthorized - Invalid or missing API key | | `402` | Payment Required - Insufficient credits | | `404` | Not Found - Resource doesn't exist | | `422` | Validation Error - Check request body | | `429` | Rate limit exceeded | | `500` | Internal Server Error | Error responses include details: ```json theme={null} { "message": "Error description", "status_code": 400 } ``` *** ## Next Steps Complete Python examples with a helper client class Full API reference for presentation generation Connect MCP clients like Claude and Cursor to Alai Delegate presentation editing to Alai from your own AI agent