Re: Clarification on AI-Based Accessibility Overlays and WCAG Conformance

Be assured: when AI is able to repair a website automatically, browsers will do this and overlays won’t be necessary anymore.

Microsoft (Edge) cooperates with openAI, Apple with openAI and Google, Google has Gemini.

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Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Marc Haunschild - he / him - #gernPerDu
Qualifizierte und autorisierte Prüfstelle im BIK-BITV-Prüfverbund

Marc Haunschild Accessibility Consulting
Sonnenhof 32
53119 Bonn

Telefon: 0170 8 64 00 63
Web: https://Accessibility.Consulting https://haunschild.de 
Email: Marc.Haunschild@Accessibility.Consulting

> Am 28.04.2025 um 16:54 schrieb Mario Toscano <mario.toscano@spindox.it>:
> 
> Dear all,
>  
> I am reaching out to ask for clarification regarding the use of AI-based overlay tools for web accessibility.
>  
> Many current solutions on the market claim to make a website accessible through overlay that adds functionalities such as:
>  
> text resizing,
> color contrast adjustments,
> screen reader support,
> keyboard navigation,
> and simulation of assistive technologies.
>  
> However, these tools do not modify the original source code or semantic structure of the website.
>  
> My questions are:
>  
> According to WCAG 2.1 or 2.2, can a website that relies solely on such AI overlay tools be considered conformant at Level AA?
> Is the use of such AI-based overlays sufficient for public or private and private organizations to legally declare conformance with WCAG standards?
> Will future versions of WCAG (e.g., WCAG 3.0) possibly include such overlays as acceptable methods of achieving compliance, even if the underlying code remains unchanged?
>  
> Thank you very much for your tim.
>  
> Best regards
>  
>  
> <image001.png>
>  
> Mario Toscano
> SW QA Deputy Director
>  
> Mobile: +39 340.9569893
> E-mail: mario.toscano@spindox.it <mailto:mario.toscano@spindox.it>
> Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariotoscano1/
>  
> <image002.png>
>  
>  
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