In today’s digital landscape, generative AI is used by companies in one way or another for various tasks. Regardless of increasing reliance on AI, it isn’t the right tool for every task. Human assessment and judgment are still essential, especially for tasks that rely on human connection.
As you wouldn’t trust completely AI-written content to be published on your website. You certainly shouldn’t rely on AI to make your website accessible for people with disabilities. It’s not that AI is completely irrelevant, and you shouldn’t even think about it.
AI is everywhere these days, from chatbots to accessibility tools, and it’s reshaping how we build digital experiences. Therefore, AI can be an assistive and cost-effective tool for enhancing digital accessibility if it is leveraged in the right direction.
Let’s delve into the role of AI in digital accessibility, where you’ll learn about the benefits of leveraging AI, the pitfalls, and several other essential aspects.
What Is AI-Powered Digital Accessibility?
Simply put, AI-powered website accessibility is leveraging artificial intelligence to develop and enhance digital content and assistive technologies. To help make your website accessible to people with disabilities and provide a more inclusive digital experience.
Think of AI-powered accessibility as your digital assistant; it helps make websites and apps work better for people with disabilities. We’re talking about:
- Smart screen readers that make sense
- Auto-generated captions for your audio or videos
- Real-time alt text for images
- Color contrast fixes that happen automatically
- Better keyboard navigation
These tools use technologies like machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), and automation to identify, suggest, or correct accessibility issues across websites, mobile applications, PDFs, and other digital interfaces.
AI tools can also assist with website accessibility audits and compliance. It ensures that the digital content meets accessibility standards like WCAG, ADA, EAA/EN 301 549, and Section 508.
Here's a more detailed look at what it entails:
Automatic captioning:
AI can automatically analyze audio and video content on your website and generate captions and descriptions to make it accessible to people with hearing impairments.
Real-time alt text generation:
Users with visual disabilities rely on screen readers to navigate the website. If images on a webpage don’t contain proper alt text, the screen reader will misread them, and the user will get confused. AI will automatically generate an alt text description for images, making them accessible to users who rely on screen readers.
Adaptive interfaces:
Users with a wide array of disabilities may visit your website, and all of them would prefer a different type of interface based on their disability. Here, AI can create an adaptive interface that allows users to customize the appearance and functionality of the website and applications, like adjusting text size, color contrast, fonts, etc.
Natural Language Processing:
To make it easier for users with cognitive impairments to interact with digital content effectively. NLP enables systems to understand and respond to human language and enhance the accessibility of your website.
These are some of the tools that AI leverages to enhance accessibility. Today, an assistive tool like the All in One Accessibility widget is available, which is AI-powered and combines all the above-mentioned tools in one, offering a 360-degree solution to all website and application owners.
Moreover, it also assists them in effectively complying with global accessibility standards. It helps them avoid legal complications with the authorities and enhances the user experience.
Benefits of Using AI in Digital Accessibility
From what we have understood till now, it is evident that leveraging AI to ensure digital accessibility is not just an option; it’s a priority. As the rules and regulations are getting stricter, authorities are surveilling websites and applications regardless of their size.
Apart from the regulatory benefits, using AI in digital accessibility has numerous benefits, like:
Speed and scalability
With AI assistance, you can scan hundreds of pages in minutes, making it ideal for large-scale websites and platforms. Whether you’re managing an online store with thousands of product listings or a university portal with hundreds of forms, using AI will assist you in identifying issues quickly.
Cost-effective for basic compliance
Whether you’re a start-up with limited resources or a mid-sized company on a budget, you’re looking for a cost-effective way to ensure basic compliance and avoid legal repercussions. By leveraging AI, you can flag missing alt text, check contrast ratios, verify heading structure, and address other necessary accessibility compliance issues.
Real-time fixes
With AI-powered solutions like All in One Accessibility, you can allow users to make real-time adjustments on the website. It addresses a wide range of accessibility needs, especially for individuals with vision, hearing, motor, and cognitive impairments. With this, the website becomes more accessible and compliant.
Monitoring Assistance
Apart from the widget, tools like website accessibility scanning and monitoring allow you to identify and track website, application, and document accessibility violations proactively. This tool offers automated website scanning and reporting. As a result, you can remediate the accessibility issues effectively and offer an all-inclusive experience to every user.
Data-driven improvements
With auto-generated reports, you can get detailed analyses of accessibility issues and their severity levels. This will allow you to improve accessibility and compliance with the global accessibility standards.
Let’s have a look at the limitations of AI in accessibility.
Pitfalls of AI in accessibility
AI is important and highly assistive, but it has its limitations. With AI, you can reduce the time required to assess and correct accessibility issues. But AI is not effective when the issues diagnosed are complex and require human judgment for effective resolution.
Here are some of the limitations of AI in accessibility:
False positives & False negatives
When you conduct an automated web accessibility audit, it can misidentify issues or fail to detect nuanced problems, like AI can generate alt text and captions for images or videos, but those might not be 100% accurate, failing to meet WCAG’s requirements. Hence, sometimes AI might give false positives or false negatives as a result, and sometimes it may not be able to handle complex accessibility issues.
Overlay accessibility lawsuits
Many AI-driven accessibility tools come in the form of an overlay. However, overlays have been at the center of numerous lawsuits. Courts have ruled that overlays alone do not make a website fully accessible or ADA compliant.
Limited support for complex interactions
There is a high chance of AI struggling with dynamic content, forms, and other interactive components. It may not accurately interpret how assistive technologies will analyze these elements. If the interaction isn’t accurate, it can confuse users with disabilities, and they won’t get an appropriate user experience.
False sense of compliance
It is not a viable option to completely rely on AI. For effective compliance with accessibility guidelines, a manual audit is necessary. Just implementing an overlay solution doesn’t mean that you will be compliant with all the necessary accessibility standards.
How AI Should Fit into Your Accessibility Compliance Strategy
The bottom line is AI should enhance, not replace, your accessibility efforts.
To effectively fit AI into your accessibility compliance strategy, a semi-automated audit is most feasible for you. In this audit:
- AI tools are used for fast scanning and basic error detection.
- Follow up with manual audits to catch what AI misses.
- Human remediation techniques are applied to ensure real-world usability and compliance.
This hybrid approach offers the best of both worlds, i.e., cost-efficiency and precision
Whether you’re a government agency looking to serve all citizens equitably, or a financial institution ensuring that your digital products are usable by individuals with disabilities, or a UI/UX agency wanting to deliver an all-inclusive experience, this layered approach helps meet legal obligations while genuinely improving accessibility.
Conclusion
Important note: Don’t let AI be your only line of defense.
Quick fix AI tools might reduce the visibility of accessibility gaps, but not your legal risk or ethical responsibility. According to a survey by the CDC, 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. suffer from some type of disability.
Accessibility compliance is not just about checking boxes; it’s about ensuring that every user, regardless of ability, can navigate, interact, and benefit from your digital presence.
Invest in a strategy that combines automated tools with human expertise, like a semi-automated web accessibility audit, to get a tailored solution for all your accessibility issues.
Why Skynet Technologies is the right choice for your WCAG and ADA website accessibility audits.
When it comes to making your website accessible, experience matters. At Skynet Technologies, we’ve been doing this for over 10 years. We handle the following:
- We’re proud members of both the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) and the IAAP (International Association of Accessibility Professionals). That means we stay plugged into the latest compliance standards so that you don’t have to. It also helps us give our clients a real edge when it comes to staying ahead of the curve.
- Our team knows ADA digital accessibility inside out. We use trusted testing tools and proven methods to deliver quick, accurate audits.
- Whether you’re on WordPress, Shopify, Magento, or any other CMS or e-commerce platform, we offer full-service accessibility solutions that fit your setup.
- With a powerful toolkit (including AI-driven assistive tech) and a team that truly understands what accessibility means, we’re here to help you build inclusive websites and applications that work for everyone.
Need help balancing AI tools and compliance best practices?
Let Skynet Technologies assist you by providing a comprehensive roadmap and assistance in boosting your accessibility journey with intelligent tools and experienced professionals.
Contact us or email us at [email protected] today to explore our tailored web accessibility solutions for your industry and region.