HTML is the new PPT
I want to talk about something that I see changing in our industry. It is flying under the radar right now, but I truly feel it is going to be the way forward for most presentations. Although it seems like a minor shift, it is going to significantly change how we share information.
PowerPoint slides are ubiquitous. We use them for absolutely everything, ranging from short project proposals to exhausting 100-plus page strategic readouts. The slide deck is pretty much the accepted standard across the corporate world. But that standard is cracking. Now, with the ease of natural language prompting you can generate a coded web page that features built-in navigation and interactivity, standard PowerPoint decks are immediately looking antiquated.
If you have not tried creating an HTML page using Gemini or Claude (you can also use Copilot, though I just have not tried it out yet), now is your chance to experiment.
You do not need to be a software engineer to do this. This is the era of "vibe coding" for the AI-savvy beginner. You do not need to use complex developer tools like Claude Code, or learn platforms like Lovable or Make. You can simply use regular, everyday language to explain to your LLM exactly what you are trying to build.
If it is your first time ditching the slide deck for a coded web page, here are a few basic tips to ensure your success.
1. Prep Your Content for the Web First
Here is a quick tip before you even start trying to code the website. Let your LLM know that you are migrating content designed for a presentation into a web format. Web copy reads differently than slide bullets. A website has hero sections, feature grids, and scrolling layouts instead of flat slides. Upload your raw content and tell the AI to rewrite and structure it in a way that is best displayed as a modern, scrolling website. Doing this first will make the actual coding phase much smoother.
2. Lock In Your Brand Guidelines
You want this presentation to look like it belongs to your company, not a generic template. Upload your official brand guidelines directly into the chat. If you do not have a brand PDF handy, simply take a screenshot of your company website or the specific website you are trying to mimic. Be sure to explicitly tell your LLM that the resulting HTML page must strictly follow the colors, fonts and layout styles found in those brand guidelines.
3. Leverage the Canvas Workspaces
If you are using Gemini, switch over to the Pro model and ensure you are utilizing the canvas or side-by-side preview features. The massive advantage of these modern interfaces is that you can view the rendered HTML page right next to your prompt window. This allows you to request small changes in plain English and view the updates instantly, without needing to know how to deploy or host a website.
4. Start Small and Do Not Overprompt
If you are just starting out with vibe coding, start incredibly small. Do not worry about generating custom images or having complex animations. Most importantly, do not overprompt the AI with too many technical requests at once. Just see what your traditional text-heavy deck looks like as a clean, responsive website. I think you will be genuinely impressed with how professional even the most simple, graphic-free site looks in comparison to a standard presentation slide.
The Hidden Advantages
Beyond just looking modern, shifting to HTML solves several massive headaches that come with traditional decks that you may not be aware of or overlooked.
Mobile Responsiveness: Have you ever tried reading a dense PowerPoint slide on a mobile phone? It is an awful experience. An HTML page naturally adapts to the screen size of your client's device.
Analytics and Updates: When you send a presentation as a web link, you do not have to worry about file size limits in emails. Even better, if you spot a typo after you send the link, you can simply update your code. The client will always see the latest version.
Standing Out: Right now, every vendor and agency is sending the exact same format. Sending a mini-website immediately signals that your team is modern, capable and deeply integrated with the latest technology.
Once you have all this under your belt and feel comfortable with the basics, you can start exploring other tools and expanding your interactive capabilities. But for your very next proposal, give the slides a rest. Try vibe coding an HTML page instead. You might never go back to the deck.
By Steven Bevilacqua
