I used to think digital accessibility was just about checking boxes. Making sure we met some rules. It felt like extra work, honestly.
Then I saw how AI could change this. Not just for compliance, but to actually help more people use our products.
It’s about making things work for everyone. Simple, right?
What Changed My Mind? AI.
Imagine trying to describe every image on your website for screen readers. It takes ages. My team always struggled.
Now, AI tools can suggest alt-text for images. It's not always perfect. But it’s a huge head start.
This got me thinking. What else can AI do here?
More Than Just Alt-Text
I started looking around. AI is helping in many ways:
- Voice Controls: Making apps easier to use without a keyboard or mouse. AI makes voice commands smarter.
- Real-time Captions: For videos and live audio. AI can generate these quickly. Big help for many.
- Readability: Some AI tools can check if your content is too complex. And suggest simpler words. I love this one.
Suddenly, making things accessible felt less like a chore and more like an interesting design problem with new tools.
AI doesn't make accessibility automatic. But it gives us new power to build for more people, more easily.
It's Not Perfect, Of Course
AI can make mistakes. It can have biases. If AI learns from a biased internet, it might make biased suggestions.
So, we still need humans. Designers and developers who care. Who check the AI’s work. Who think about real users.
I tell my team: AI is your assistant for accessibility, not your replacement. You are still in charge of making it right.
Why This Matters to Me as a Product Guy
More accessible products mean more users. Simple math.
It also means we are building better products. Products that are easier for *everyone* to use, not just those with specific needs.
Thinking about accessibility early, with AI as a helper, forces us to be clearer. Simpler. That’s good for all our users.
It’s good for business. And it feels good to do the right thing. AI just makes it a bit easier to get there.