In the new AI era, accessibility means visibility
AI chat searchShoppers are skipping Google and turning to AI search like ChatGPT and Gemini for answers and product picks. If your content isn’t structured and accessible, your brand may not show up. Accessibility isn’t optional—it’s your ticket to visibility.
of U.S. shoppers use generative AI for shopping
Source: Ominsend
of eComm leaders optimize product content for AI chat
Source: accessiBe
referral visits from AI to the top 1,000 domains
Source: Wifitalents
"Typing in what you are looking for, or talking to a chatbot instead of figuring out how to work the pre-defined filters will be a game-changer for an online shopping experience.״
Impact on eCommerce holiday season
AI-powered discovery is rewriting the rules of visibility. If your product data isn’t machine-readable and accessibility-ready—alt text, semantic markup, ARIA labels—you risk becoming invisible in the AI-first era of search. The future of product discovery belongs to brands that treat accessibility as both inclusion and discoverability. What was negligible referral traffic a year ago has exploded into nearly 1.3 billion of visits monthly.
Behind this research
Our eCommerce trends survey, conducted in partnership with Qualtrics, non-profit leaders, and disability community organizations, gathered insights from over 300 eCommerce leaders, decision-makers, and members of the disability community. This collaboration ensures the research reflects both industry priorities and lived experiences.
