The Cost of Accessibility in AI — Jemima Abu, CAIS

Hi, my name is Hi, my name is Emma, ​​and I'm going to talk to you Emma, ​​and I'm going to talk to you Emma, ​​and I'm going to talk to you about the price of accessibility about the price of accessibility about the price of accessibility in AI, or as I in AI, or as I in AI, or as I call it, not call it, not call it, not wasting tokens on wasting tokens on wasting tokens on building products building products building products that people can't that people can't that people can't use. Because use. Because use. Because after all, what is after all, what is after all, what is accessibility? accessibility? accessibility? Accessibility is the Accessibility is the Accessibility is the ability of a product ability of a product ability of a product to be used by to be used by to be used by anyone, regardless anyone, regardless anyone, regardless of of of disability. So, disability. So, disability. So, this means that when you this means that when you this means that when you create an create an create an inaccessible product, inaccessible product, inaccessible product, it is inherently it is inherently it is inherently useless because people useless because people useless because people cannot cannot cannot use it. I use it. I use it. I think this is a very think this is a very think this is a very relevant topic, relevant topic, relevant topic, especially in these days of " especially in these days of " vibe coding," prompt vibe coding," prompt engineering, and AI engineering, and AI engineering, and AI that essentially writes that essentially writes that essentially writes all the code for us. We all the code for us. We all the code for us. We need to make sure need to make sure that even when all the that even when all the that even when all the code is written by AI, we code is written by AI, we code is written by AI, we still build still build still build products for people and products for people and products for people and ensure that people ensure that people ensure that people can can can use them. It's all use them. It's all use them. It's all well and good to "load" well and good to "load" well and good to "load" five different apps five different apps five different apps a day, but if people a day, but if people a day, but if people can't can't can't use them, what use them, what use them, what 's the point? 's the point? 's the point? WebAIM research WebAIM research WebAIM research shows that 96% of the shows that 96% of the homepages of the homepages of the world's million most popular websites world's million most popular websites have some kind of have some kind of accessibility issue. I travel a lot accessibility issue. I travel a lot and and and talk about talk about talk about accessibility, and when accessibility, and when accessibility, and when I ask why people don't I ask why people don't I ask why people don't make websites make websites make websites accessible, I usually accessible, I usually accessible, I usually hear that it takes hear that it takes hear that it takes too much time. While I too much time. While I too much time. While I agree that agree that agree that accessibility is a accessibility is a accessibility is a time-consuming and time-consuming and time-consuming and time-consuming process, I time-consuming process, I time-consuming process, I believe that now that believe that now that believe that now that AI writes most of AI writes most of AI writes most of our code, our code, our code, making things making things making things accessible is actually accessible is actually accessible is actually easier. I would even easier. I would even easier. I would even say that creating say that creating say that creating inaccessible inaccessible inaccessible websites costs websites costs websites costs more time and money more time and money . So I decided to . So I decided to . So I decided to do a little do a little do a little experiment experiment experiment using the using the using the codebase at work codebase at work . I gave the agents this . I gave the agents this . I gave the agents this prompt. It was a prompt. It was a prompt. It was a simple prompt with no simple prompt with no simple prompt with no instructions: instructions: instructions: implement this implement this implement this design with Figma. And they design with Figma. And they design with Figma. And they did it twice.

did it twice. did it twice. The first time without The first time without The first time without any any any accessibility skills, and the accessibility skills, and the accessibility skills, and the second time second time using the using the using the skill I skill I skill I wrote. I noticed wrote. I noticed wrote. I noticed that not only was it faster for the agent that not only was it faster for the agent to build an accessible to build an accessible interface, but interface, but interface, but the cost of doing so the cost of doing so the cost of doing so was reduced by 58%. We was reduced by 58%. We was reduced by 58%. We can look at can look at can look at the data right here. We the data right here. We the data right here. We see that it is not only see that it is not only see that it is not only cheaper, but also took cheaper, but also took cheaper, but also took three times less time to three times less time to three times less time to complete the prompt complete the prompt complete the prompt using the using the using the accessibility skill. accessibility skill. accessibility skill. So, to summarize, it is So, to summarize, it is actually cheaper for AI agents actually cheaper for AI agents to create to create to create accessible websites. We accessible websites. We accessible websites. We cannot cannot cannot claim this, and we claim this, and we claim this, and we will not do so, will not do so, will not do so, because this was a because this was a because this was a one-time one-time one-time experiment experiment experiment conducted in an conducted in an conducted in an unconfined unconfined unconfined environment, so it environment, so it environment, so it cannot serve as cannot serve as cannot serve as empirical data empirical data empirical data proving this. But proving this. But proving this. But when we consider the when we consider the when we consider the reasons why it reasons why it took the AI ​​agent took the AI ​​agent took the AI ​​agent much longer much longer much longer to complete the tasks to complete the tasks to complete the tasks without without without accessibility skills, we accessibility skills, we accessibility skills, we can better can better can better understand why it is understand why it is understand why it is faster to create faster to create faster to create accessible websites. accessible websites. accessible websites. But before we But before we But before we get to that, get to that, get to that, hello, my name is hello, my name is hello, my name is Jeremiah Abu. I'm a Jeremiah Abu. I'm a product development engineer at Case, an alternative alternative investment platform. I am also a investment platform. I am also a investment platform. I am also a Google Dev Expert, Microsoft MVP, and a Google Dev Expert, Microsoft MVP, and a Google Dev Expert, Microsoft MVP, and a Certified Certified Accessibility Fundamentals Specialist. Accessibility Fundamentals Specialist. Basically, I like Basically, I like Basically, I like to talk about to talk about to talk about how to make the internet a how to make the internet a how to make the internet a more accessible more accessible more accessible place. I will also make a place. I will also make a place. I will also make a small small small reservation. While reservation. While reservation. While many of my many of my accessibility examples will be accessibility examples will be related to the web, related to the web, related to the web, as that is my area of as that is my area of as that is my area of expertise, it expertise, it expertise, it can also be applied can also be applied can also be applied regardless of regardless of regardless of the platform you the platform you the platform you are working on, whether it is are working on, whether it is are working on, whether it is mobile devices, mobile devices, hardware, or anything else. So, anything else. So, anything else. So, let's get back to the topic.

let's get back to the topic. let's get back to the topic. This is your AI agent. It's a This is your AI agent. It's a This is your AI agent. It's a super-intelligent super-intelligent super-intelligent tool that can tool that can tool that can do almost anything in do almost anything in do almost anything in the world, but at the same time, it's the world, but at the same time, it's the world, but at the same time, it's only 3 years old. And, only 3 years old. And, only 3 years old. And, like a baby, artificial like a baby, artificial like a baby, artificial intelligence is very intelligence is very intelligence is very vulnerable to influence. vulnerable to influence. vulnerable to influence. If you tell him If you tell him If you tell him enough times that enough times that enough times that the sky is red, eventually the sky is red, eventually the sky is red, eventually he will begin to perceive he will begin to perceive he will begin to perceive that the sky is red. This that the sky is red. This that the sky is red. This means that as means that as means that as responsible responsible responsible developers, we developers, we developers, we must make sure must make sure that we provide that we provide that we provide the right skills and the right skills and the right skills and guidance for AI guidance for AI agents so that they agents so that they agents so that they create the product create the product create the product we expect from them we expect from them we expect from them . There's a . There's a . There's a Japanese show on Netflix that I Japanese show on Netflix that I Japanese show on Netflix that I love called " love called " Old Enough." It's essentially Old Enough." It's essentially Old Enough." It's essentially about toddlers who are about toddlers who are about toddlers who are sent on their sent on their sent on their first errand. It first errand. It first errand. It could be a three-year-old could be a three-year-old could be a three-year-old child who child who child who was sent to the was sent to the was sent to the supermarket for supermarket for supermarket for groceries. And what I groceries. And what I groceries. And what I love about this love about this love about this show is that you show is that you show is that you can always can always can always see the steps that see the steps that see the steps that parents take before parents take before parents take before sending them out on sending them out on sending them out on that first errand. that first errand. that first errand. So, maybe the child has So, maybe the child has So, maybe the child has already already already gone to the supermarket with their parents a few times gone to the supermarket with their parents a few times gone to the supermarket with their parents a few times , or they , or they , or they provide a very clear provide a very clear provide a very clear list showing list showing list showing where the where the where the supermarket is, what they supermarket is, what they supermarket is, what they need to need to need to get there, get there, get there, which routes to avoid, which routes to avoid, which routes to avoid, and this makes it much easier for and this makes it much easier for and this makes it much easier for the child to complete the child to complete the child to complete this task. The this task. The this task. The same with the agent. When same with the agent. When same with the agent. When you instruct an you instruct an you instruct an agent, for example, agent, for example, agent, for example, to create a website to create a website to create a website or implement a or implement a or implement a design, providing design, providing design, providing the right skills the right skills the right skills and tips greatly and tips greatly and tips greatly simplifies the agent's simplifies the agent's simplifies the agent's task: he does not task: he does not task: he does not lose his way, lose his way, lose his way, and the finished product and the finished product and the finished product looks exactly as looks exactly as looks exactly as you planned. So, you planned. So, you planned. So, let's see let's see let's see what happens when what happens when what happens when we don't provide any we don't provide any we don't provide any guidance to our guidance to our guidance to our agents during agents during agents during product development.

product development. product development. First, human First, human First, human biases biases biases are translated into are translated into are translated into AI biases. AI biases. AI biases. For years, people have been For years, people have been For years, people have been building websites building websites building websites or products that are or products that are or products that are inaccessible because inaccessible because , frankly, we , frankly, we , frankly, we just don't think about just don't think about just don't think about it. Especially as it. Especially as it. Especially as developers, we developers, we developers, we tend to think "it tend to think "it works for me". I say, works for me". I say, "This thing works on "This thing works on "This thing works on my laptop, it my laptop, it my laptop, it works as I works as I works as I intended, and I'm not intended, and I'm not intended, and I'm not going to going to going to test anything else." I test anything else." I test anything else." I don't care if don't care if don't care if it works with it works with it works with screen readers screen readers screen readers or in low or in low or in low light conditions. I light conditions. I light conditions. I just say, "it just say, "it just say, "it works, it's works, it's works, it's built, I'm built, I'm built, I'm done." When you done." When you done." When you build in this way build in this way build in this way or have a codebase or have a codebase that reflects this that reflects this that reflects this mentality, then as soon as mentality, then as soon as mentality, then as soon as you add an AI you add an AI agent to that code, it agent to that code, it agent to that code, it absorbs all of your absorbs all of your absorbs all of your biases. He'll biases. He'll biases. He'll say, "Oh, we don't say, "Oh, we don't say, "Oh, we don't need to make these need to make these need to make these things available things available things available because it wasn't because it wasn't because it wasn't mentioned in the mentioned in the mentioned in the past." So I'll past." So I'll past." So I'll just build just build just build everything as I have to." And everything as I have to." And everything as I have to." And the more you the more you the more you use this use this use this AI agent to AI agent to AI agent to generate code, the generate code, the generate code, the more you build a more you build a more you build a codebase that codebase that codebase that is inherently is inherently is inherently inaccessible, because inaccessible, because inaccessible, because accessibility accessibility accessibility was never a requirement in the was never a requirement in the was never a requirement in the first place. first place. Secondly, and this is something I Secondly, and this is something I Secondly, and this is something I really noticed during the really noticed during the really noticed during the experiment, AI experiment, AI experiment, AI tends to tends to create a create a lot of redundant code by default. lot of redundant code by default. lot of redundant code by default. If you don't give If you don't give If you don't give the agent any the agent any the agent any specific hints specific hints specific hints or instructions, he will or instructions, he will or instructions, he will reinvent the wheel reinvent the wheel reinvent the wheel as many times as many times as many times as he wants. So as he wants. So as he wants. So even if you even if you even if you tell it to just tell it to just tell it to just create a simple create a simple create a simple accordion component accordion component accordion component or a modal window, or a modal window, or a modal window, it won't bother it won't bother it won't bother checking if checking if semantic elements semantic elements with the same with the same with the same functionality already exist.

functionality already exist. functionality already exist. He will simply create He will simply create He will simply create everything from scratch. AI loves to everything from scratch. AI loves to everything from scratch. AI loves to write code. So he will write code. So he will write code. So he will go and write as much as he go and write as much as he wants. And as you can wants. And as you can see, if you see, if you see, if you try to try to try to replicate a replicate a replicate a semantic element, semantic element, semantic element, it takes a lot it takes a lot it takes a lot more time and effort more time and effort , because, firstly, , because, firstly, , because, firstly, you need to do you need to do you need to do a lot more a lot more a lot more testing, testing, testing, implement implement implement a lot more a lot more a lot more functions to functions to functions to replicate the replicate the replicate the built-in built-in built-in functionality, and it's a functionality, and it's a functionality, and it's a very cumbersome very cumbersome very cumbersome process. So, these are just process. So, these are just process. So, these are just some of the points to some of the points to focus on when you focus on when you provide tips to provide tips to provide tips to your agent. your agent. your agent. I once saw a comparison I once saw a comparison I once saw a comparison that an accessible website that an accessible website that an accessible website is like a is like a is like a blueberry muffin. This is when blueberry muffin. This is when blueberry muffin. This is when someone gives you a someone gives you a someone gives you a regular cupcake with a regular cupcake with a regular cupcake with a bunch of blueberries stuffed into it bunch of blueberries stuffed into it bunch of blueberries stuffed into it , like in the , like in the , like in the picture on the right. picture on the right. picture on the right. This is not a This is not a This is not a blueberry muffin. For it to be a blueberry muffin. For it to be a blueberry muffin. For it to be a true true true blueberry muffin, like the one on blueberry muffin, like the one on blueberry muffin, like the one on the left, the blueberries have to the left, the blueberries have to the left, the blueberries have to be baked into it be baked into it be baked into it from the start. The same goes from the start. The same goes from the start. The same goes for an accessible for an accessible for an accessible website. If you website. If you website. If you already have a website ready and you already have a website ready and you already have a website ready and you start inserting start inserting start inserting aria tags into it, aria tags into it, aria tags into it, it is not an accessible it is not an accessible it is not an accessible website. To make a website. To make a website. To make a website accessible, website accessible, website accessible, you need to you need to prioritize accessibility at every prioritize accessibility at every stage of development. And this stage of development. And this stage of development. And this doesn't just apply to doesn't just apply to doesn't just apply to developers— developers— accessibility is accessibility is everyone's responsibility. So it's worth everyone's responsibility. So it's worth making sure that from the making sure that from the making sure that from the business idea to the business idea to the business idea to the design and design and design and testing, we testing, we testing, we take accessibility into account take accessibility into account take accessibility into account and and and check whether check whether check whether this product can this product can this product can be used be used be used equally by everyone.

equally by everyone. equally by everyone. The problem with waiting The problem with waiting The problem with waiting until the very end to until the very end to until the very end to think about think about think about accessibility is that accessibility is that accessibility is that you you you waste a ton of time waste a ton of time waste a ton of time on regression on regression on regression testing. So, testing. So, testing. So, if you wait until if you wait until the site is finished and then the site is finished and then start testing start testing start testing and fixing and fixing and fixing bugs, you bugs, you bugs, you will have to will have to will have to rework and rework and rework and rewrite significantly rewrite significantly rewrite significantly more code than if more code than if more code than if you had built you had built you had built it to be available right away. And, it to be available right away. And, it to be available right away. And, of course, creating of course, creating of course, creating inaccessible inaccessible inaccessible products has its products has its products has its business consequences. business consequences. business consequences. Sometimes I hear people in Sometimes I hear people in Sometimes I hear people in business say, "Oh, business say, "Oh, business say, "Oh, we don't have to we don't have to we don't have to think about think about think about accessibility because none accessibility because none accessibility because none of our users of our users of our users use use use assistive technology assistive technology ." This looks quite ." This looks quite ." This looks quite funny because it's like a funny because it's like a self-fulfilling prophecy self-fulfilling prophecy . It's not . It's not . It's not that your that your that your users don't users don't users don't use use use assistive technologies assistive technologies , it's that people with , it's that people with , it's that people with such technologies such technologies such technologies can't can't can't use your use your use your site, so they site, so they site, so they simply don't simply don't simply don't go there. Imagine a go there. Imagine a go there. Imagine a business that has no business that has no business that has no doors. You will never have doors. You will never have doors. You will never have customers. How customers. How customers. How will they get into the will they get into the will they get into the building? Same with building? Same with building? Same with developing an developing an developing an unavailable unavailable unavailable product. If you product. If you product. If you create a product create a product create a product that people can't that people can't that people can't use, they won't use, they won't use it. use it. Finally, there are Finally, there are Finally, there are legal consequences for legal consequences for legal consequences for not having not having not having your your your website accessible. In the website accessible. In the website accessible. In the United States, the United States, the Americans with Americans with Disabilities Act requires Disabilities Act requires that all public that all public that all public products be products be products be accessible and accessible and usable by people usable by people with disabilities, with disabilities, with disabilities, or you or you or you risk fines risk fines risk fines or even or even or even lawsuits. But on the lawsuits. But on the lawsuits. But on the bright side—you'll bright side—you'll bright side—you'll be able to be able to be able to use this use this use this very cute sticker in very cute sticker in very cute sticker in Microsoft Teams, so Microsoft Teams, so Microsoft Teams, so weigh the pros and weigh the pros and cons for yourself. With this in mind cons for yourself. With this in mind , we see that , we see that , we see that creating products creating products creating products that are not affordable is that are not affordable is that are not affordable is actually actually actually much more expensive. You much more expensive. You much more expensive. You expose yourself to expose yourself to expose yourself to losing money from losing money from losing money from customers, possible customers, possible customers, possible lawsuits with lawsuits with lawsuits with fines, and fines, and fines, and spending spending spending more time more time more time writing code and writing code and writing code and refactoring. So refactoring. So refactoring. So if you create a if you create a if you create a product that is accessible product that is accessible product that is accessible from the start, from the start, from the start, it will be much faster it will be much faster it will be much faster and cheaper. So, now that and cheaper. So, now that we know this, how do we know this, how do we know this, how do we actually we actually we actually ensure that our ensure that our ensure that our AI agents create AI agents create AI agents create accessible products?

accessible products? accessible products? Since Since Since everyone's codebase is different and we everyone's codebase is different and we everyone's codebase is different and we may work with may work with may work with different technologies different technologies , I will provide a general , I will provide a general , I will provide a general overview of how overview of how overview of how to get your AI to get your AI agents to produce agents to produce agents to produce accessible code. accessible code. First, you need to First, you need to First, you need to determine your determine your accessibility requirements. Accessibility requirements vary depending vary depending on the platform on the platform on the platform you are working with. Therefore, you you are working with. Therefore, you you are working with. Therefore, you need to do your need to do your need to do your research and research and research and make sure you make sure you make sure you know what accessibility requirements know what accessibility requirements the platform the platform you are building a product for must meet. you are building a product for must meet. you are building a product for must meet. Once this is done, you Once this is done, you Once this is done, you need to need to need to audit the existing audit the existing audit the existing codebase. So, codebase. So, codebase. So, if you are going to if you are going to if you are going to implement an AI agent in implement an AI agent in implement an AI agent in your code, you your code, you your code, you need to need to need to make sure that make sure that make sure that there are no problems that the AI there are no problems that the AI agent can agent can agent can copy, considering copy, considering copy, considering them as best them as best them as best practices. You can practices. You can practices. You can use use use automated automated automated tools for tools for accessibility testing or accessibility testing or even entrust it to even entrust it to even entrust it to your AI agent. your AI agent. your AI agent. However, you should However, you should However, you should identify any existing identify any existing identify any existing issues and issues and issues and fix them before you fix them before you fix them before you start start start working on new working on new working on new features. Next, it is worth features. Next, it is worth features. Next, it is worth implementing some kind of implementing some kind of component reuse system. This is highly component reuse system. This is highly desirable, as it is much desirable, as it is much desirable, as it is much easier to fix a easier to fix a easier to fix a bug in one bug in one bug in one component that is component that is component that is used in used in used in many places than to many places than to many places than to fix the same fix the same fix the same thing in different files. thing in different files. thing in different files. So having a So having a design system in place or any design system in place or any library of library of library of reusable reusable reusable components components components will save you a lot of will save you a lot of will save you a lot of time in the time in the time in the long long long run when run when run when ensuring ensuring ensuring accessibility.

accessibility. accessibility. Finally, you should Finally, you should Finally, you should implement the implement the implement the mandatory mandatory accessibility skill. This is accessibility skill. This is a skill that your AI a skill that your AI agents agents agents will use will use will use every time you every time you every time you launch launch launch a task to a task to a task to create an interface create an interface create an interface or write code or write code or write code that requires that requires that requires accessibility. I accessibility. I accessibility. I really like really like really like using using Chrome's Modern Web Guidance skill. This is a Chrome's Modern Web Guidance skill. This is a tool that tool that tool that ensures your ensures your ensures your agent uses the agent uses the agent uses the latest HTML and latest HTML and latest HTML and CSS features instead of creating your CSS features instead of creating your CSS features instead of creating your own implementations own implementations own implementations in JavaScript. You can also in JavaScript. You can also use a use a lighter version of the lighter version of the lighter version of the accessibility skill. accessibility skill. accessibility skill. I find this very I find this very I find this very important, especially important, especially important, especially if you are if you are if you are coding quickly coding quickly coding quickly or not working on a or not working on a or not working on a large codebase large codebase large codebase . You just . You just . You just need something quick need something quick need something quick that your agent that your agent that your agent can refer to without can refer to without can refer to without doing in-depth doing in-depth doing in-depth research. Here's what I would research. Here's what I would research. Here's what I would recommend to recommend to recommend to meet the meet the meet the minimum minimum minimum accessibility requirements. accessibility requirements. accessibility requirements. So, make sure So, make sure So, make sure you use you use you use semantic HTML semantic HTML semantic HTML wherever possible wherever possible wherever possible and only turn to ARIA and only turn to ARIA and only turn to ARIA when when when semantic HTML semantic HTML semantic HTML cannot convey the cannot convey the cannot convey the desired behavior. desired behavior. desired behavior. Every interactive Every interactive Every interactive element, if it element, if it element, if it can be controlled can be controlled can be controlled with a mouse, should with a mouse, should with a mouse, should also be controlled with a also be controlled with a also be controlled with a keyboard keyboard . Also make sure . Also make sure that elements have that elements have that elements have proper labels and proper labels and proper labels and can be can be can be read by read by read by screen readers. screen readers. screen readers. Finally, Finally, Finally, your your your agent should agent should agent should check all of check all of check all of these points before running the code. Of course these points before running the code. Of course , this is not enough , this is not enough , this is not enough to create a to create a to create a fully accessible fully accessible fully accessible website. You website. You website. You still need to still need to still need to do a lot of do a lot of do a lot of manual testing, manual testing, manual testing, as no as no as no tool can tool can tool can make a site make a site make a site fully accessible on fully accessible on fully accessible on its own. But its own. But its own. But having these having these having these skills can skills can skills can help much help much help much more than their complete more than their complete more than their complete absence.

absence. absence. Regardless of Regardless of Regardless of why you why you why you use AI, use AI, use AI, most often the goal most often the goal most often the goal is to solve a is to solve a is to solve a specific problem. specific problem. specific problem. So just So just So just make sure make sure make sure your solution will be your solution will be your solution will be useful to as many useful to as many people as possible. So make people as possible. So make things accessible. And that's it things accessible. And that's it things accessible. And that's it . Thank you very much for . Thank you very much for . Thank you very much for listening to my listening to my listening to my report. I hope report. I hope report. I hope you liked it. you liked it. you liked it. If you have any If you have any If you have any questions, questions, questions, contact me contact me contact me online as Jemima Abu. This is online as Jemima Abu. This is online as Jemima Abu. This is LinkedIn, Twitter or GitHub. LinkedIn, Twitter or GitHub. LinkedIn, Twitter or GitHub. I would be happy to hear your I would be happy to hear your I would be happy to hear your feedback. Okay, feedback. Okay, feedback. Okay, bye.