This Guidance shows how to convert images to text and speech with machine learning and generative AI services on AWS. Converting images to text is done with the help of Amazon Kendra, a search engine that can be used to index an image repository and search for data. Next, generative AI is used for captioning the images, recognizing objects and features to generate a human-readable textual description, typically a caption based on extracted visual features. This Guidance also shows how to convert image to speech and can be extended to serve content through voice-enabled devices, such as Amazon Alexa. This involves the Describe for Me web app which generates a caption of an image and reads it back in a clear, human-sounding voice, including a variety of languages and dialects.

Please note: [Disclaimer]

Architecture Diagram

Download the architecture diagram PDF 
  • Image-To-Text
  • This architecture diagram demonstrates how to convert image to text.

  • Image-To-Speech
  • This architecture diagram demonstrates how to convert an image to speech; it can be extended by serving the content through voice-enabled devices, such as Alexa.

Well-Architected Pillars

The AWS Well-Architected Framework helps you understand the pros and cons of the decisions you make when building systems in the cloud. The six pillars of the Framework allow you to learn architectural best practices for designing and operating reliable, secure, efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable systems. Using the AWS Well-Architected Tool, available at no charge in the AWS Management Console, you can review your workloads against these best practices by answering a set of questions for each pillar.

The architecture diagram above is an example of a Solution created with Well-Architected best practices in mind. To be fully Well-Architected, you should follow as many Well-Architected best practices as possible.

  • This Guidance uses AWS services like Lambda and Step Functions to automate tasks, reducing manual work and errors, and Amazon S3 to provide reliable data storage. These services easily adapt to changing workloads and support efficient, consistent operations. Additionally, you can use Amazon CloudWatch to monitor operations and gain insights.

    Read the Operational Excellence whitepaper 
  • This Guidance uses Lambda and Step Functions to automate security-related tasks, reducing the risk of human error in security processes. Additionally, API Gateway enforces secure management of API endpoints, Amazon Cognito enhances user authentication and authorization processes, and AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) controls access to AWS resources. Finally, CloudWatch helps detect security incidents or anomalous activities in real time, facilitating swift incident responses and threat mitigation.

    Read the Security whitepaper 
  • This Guidance uses automation through Lambda and Step Functions to reduce the risk of human errors that might compromise reliability. Additionally, Amazon S3 provides data replication and redundancy features that increase data reliability, and API Gateway grants users consistent and secure access to APIs to maintain workload reliability. CloudWatch monitors operations, aiding in issue detection and resolution. This proactive approach enhances workload reliability by minimizing downtime and disruptions.

    Read the Reliability whitepaper 
  • This Guidance reduces latency and resource inefficiency by using Lambda and Step Functions to automate processes and streamline workflows. Additionally, SageMaker and Amazon Polly facilitate real-time content generation, supporting faster and more efficient workloads, and API Gateway optimizes API management, delivering low latency and consistent access to promote high performance efficiency.

    Read the Performance Efficiency whitepaper 
  • This Guidance minimizes operational expenses by using Lambda and Step Functions to facilitate efficient resource use and reduce the need for constant manual intervention, minimizing human error and resource waste. Additionally, Amazon Polly reduces the need for costly manual content creation, API Gateway optimizes API management, decreasing compute-related costs, and Amazon Kendra improves search efficiency, reducing the time and resources spent on information retrieval. Finally, Amazon S3 offers scalable and cost-effective storage solutions so that you can store and access data efficiently without incurring unnecessary expenses.

    Read the Cost Optimization whitepaper 
  • This Guidance uses serverless services like Lambda and API Gateway for their energy efficiency, their efficient use of resources, and their incorporation of renewable energy sources. These practices align with sustainability goals, helping you reduce your carbon footprint.

    Read the Sustainability whitepaper 

Implementation Resources

A detailed guide is provided to experiment and use within your AWS account. Each stage of building the Guidance, including deployment, usage, and cleanup, is examined to prepare it for deployment.

The sample code is a starting point. It is industry validated, prescriptive but not definitive, and a peek under the hood to help you begin.

AWS Machine Learning
Blog

Automate caption creation and search for images at enterprise scale using generative AI and Amazon Kendra

This blog post demonstrates how to use CDE in Amazon Kendra using a Generative AI model deployed on Amazon SageMaker. 
AWS Machine Learning
Blog

Introducing an image-to-speech Generative AI application using Amazon SageMaker and Hugging Face

This blog post walks you through the Solution Architecture and design considerations behind “Describe For Me”, a website which helps the visually impaired understand images through image caption, facial recognition, and text-to-speech.

Disclaimer

The sample code; software libraries; command line tools; proofs of concept; templates; or other related technology (including any of the foregoing that are provided by our personnel) is provided to you as AWS Content under the AWS Customer Agreement, or the relevant written agreement between you and AWS (whichever applies). You should not use this AWS Content in your production accounts, or on production or other critical data. You are responsible for testing, securing, and optimizing the AWS Content, such as sample code, as appropriate for production grade use based on your specific quality control practices and standards. Deploying AWS Content may incur AWS charges for creating or using AWS chargeable resources, such as running Amazon EC2 instances or using Amazon S3 storage.

References to third-party services or organizations in this Guidance do not imply an endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation between Amazon or AWS and the third party. Guidance from AWS is a technical starting point, and you can customize your integration with third-party services when you deploy the architecture.

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