AI Search Is Routing Users to the Least Accessible Pages on the Web, AudioEye's 2026 Digital Accessibility Index Finds

AudioEye (Nasdaq: AEYE) released its 2026 Digital Accessibility Index, scanning over 165,000 pages across 6,100 U.S. and EU domains.

Rhea-AI Summary

AudioEye (Nasdaq: AEYE) released its 2026 Digital Accessibility Index, scanning over 165,000 pages across 6,100 U.S. and EU domains. The report finds interior product and conversion pages average 10% more accessibility issues, receive about two-thirds of AI search traffic, and appear in roughly 60% of 2025 accessibility claims.

On average, pages contain 62 issues, with 21% blocking key tasks like purchases or form submissions. Five WCAG criteria drive 40% of problems, while EU sites show 25% more issues per page than U.S. sites, increasing regulatory and financial risk under the European Accessibility Act.

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News Market Reaction – AEYE

In the Jun 25 session, AEYE declined 2.45%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement quantifies accessibility risk across 165,000 pages, highlighting 62 issues per pag...

Analysis

This announcement quantifies accessibility risk across 165,000 pages, highlighting 62 issues per page and elevated exposure on EU sites. Investors can track how AEYE monetizes these findings while monitoring litigation trends and evolving AI search-driven traffic patterns.

Key Figures

Pages analyzed: over 165,000 pages Domains analyzed: 6,100 domains Extra issues on interior pages: 10% more issues +5 more

Pages analyzed

over 165,000 pages

U.S. and EU pages scanned for 2026 Digital Accessibility Index

Domains analyzed

6,100 domains

Websites included in 2026 Digital Accessibility Index

Extra issues on interior pages

10% more issues

Average vs. homepages on deeper site pages

Claims involving interior pages

approximately 60% of claims

Share of 2025 accessibility claims mentioning interior pages

Average issues per page

62 issues

Average accessibility problems detected per webpage

Task-blocking issues

21% of issues

Share of issues preventing purchases, forms, or account access

Concentrated WCAG share

40% of issues

Portion of all detected issues from five WCAG criteria

EU vs U.S. gap

25% more issues

EU sites’ average accessibility issues per page vs. U.S. sites

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jun 18

5 events

1. Jun 18

   CFO appointment

   24h Move

   -2.2%

   New CFO named as company highlights recurring revenue growth and margin improvement.

2. May 12

   Earnings results

   24h Move

   -5.3%

   Record Q1 2026 revenue, strong margins, growing ARR, and improved adjusted EBITDA guidance.

3. May 04

   Leadership changes

   24h Move

   -3.7%

   CEO transition and product-led AI focus with emphasis on capital allocation and expansion.

4. Apr 28

   Product recognition

   24h Move

   -1.8%

   G2 Best Software Product award and multiple badges across customer segments and regions.

5. Apr 23

   Preliminary earnings

   24h Move

   -3.2%

   Preliminary Q1 results showing ARR growth and adjusted EBITDA above prior expectations.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

wcag, european accessibility act

2 terms

wcag technical

"Five WCAG criteria account for 40% of all detected issues."

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) are internationally recognized standards for making websites, documents, and digital tools usable by people with disabilities, including those who rely on screen readers, captions, clear structure, or larger text. For investors, WCAG compliance reduces legal and reputational risk, broadens potential customer and shareholder access, and signals that a company is managing regulatory and customer-accessibility obligations—much like adding ramps and clear signage to a physical store.

european accessibility act regulatory

"Litigation is accelerating, the EAA is enforceable, and AI is sending users..."

A European law that sets mandatory accessibility rules for many products and services—like websites, apps, payment terminals, public transport interfaces and consumer devices—so they are usable by people with disabilities. Think of it as a building code for digital and physical products: companies must design or modify offerings to meet the standards. For investors, compliance affects costs, legal risk, market access and competitive positioning in the EU market.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Analysis of over 165,000 U.S. and EU pages reveals product and conversion pages are driving litigation risk, as two-thirds of traffic now routes to interior pages

TUCSON, Ariz., June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- AudioEye, Inc. (Nasdaq: AEYE) ("AudioEye" or the "Company"), an industry-leading digital accessibility company, today released the third annual 2026 Digital Accessibility Index (DAI). The report scanned over 165,000 pages across 6,100 domains in the U.S. and Europe, revealing where accessibility risk is concentrating, what is driving enforcement actions, and why most programs are falling behind.

The findings reveal a consistent gap between where accessibility programs focus and where risk actually lives. Most organizations start on the homepage and treat interior pages as lower priority. However, these deeper pages average more issues (+10%), appear in approximately 60% of accessibility claims filed in 2025, and are now receiving more direct traffic as AI search routes users past the homepage.

"Organizations are facing a perfect storm of compliance risk," said Kelly Georgevich, CEO of AudioEye. "Litigation is accelerating, the EAA is enforceable, and AI is sending users to pages most accessibility programs haven't prioritized. At the same time, AI is building the web faster than accessibility programs can keep up and using models trained on an internet that is largely inaccessible. The 2026 DAI findings show the risk is real, measurable, and growing faster than most programs are moving."

2026 DAI Key Findings

• AI search is sending users to the least compliant pages on every site. Interior pages average 10% more issues than homepages, and according to Previsible, AI search engines are sending two-thirds of traffic to them.
• The average webpage contains 62 issues. That figure holds across every industry and region, a gap that persists even as enforcement ramps up.
• One in five issues blocks users from completing critical tasks. 21% of detected issues prevent users from completing purchases, submitting forms, or accessing account information. These are the issues that drive lost revenue and litigation exposure.
• Five WCAG criteria account for 40% of all detected issues. Missing image descriptions, unclear link text, unlabeled buttons and form fields, low-contrast interactive elements, and missing skip navigation appeared on roughly three in four pages. They also appear consistently in accessibility litigation filings.
• EU sites trail U.S. counterparts, with enforcement accelerating. EU sites averaged 25% more accessibility issues per page than U.S. sites. As the European Accessibility Act's enforcement takes hold, that gap is a growing regulatory and financial risk for any organization serving EU customers.

As AI search reshapes traffic and accessibility rules expand globally, every page on a site is now a potential compliance failure and a potential lawsuit. The 2026 Digital Accessibility Index gives organizations a clear picture of where violations concentrate, what is driving enforcement actions, and what it takes to protect their entire web presence.

To view the full report, visit audioeye.com/digital-accessibility-index/2026.

About AudioEye
AudioEye exists to ensure the digital future we build is accessible. The gold standard for digital accessibility, AudioEye's comprehensive solution combines industry-leading AI automation technology with expert fixes informed by the disability community. This powerful combination delivers industry-leading protection, ensuring businesses of all sizes - including over 127,000 customers such as Samsung, Lands' End, and Samsonite - meet and exceed compliance standards. With 25 US patents, AudioEye's solution includes 24/7 accessibility monitoring, automated WCAG issue testing and fixes, expert testing, developer tools, and legal protection, empowering organizations to confidently create accessible digital experiences for all.

Media Contact
Sierra Thomas
sierra.thomas@audioeye.com

Investor Contact
Tom Colton
Gateway Group, Inc.
AEYE@gateway-grp.com
949-574-3860

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ai-search-is-routing-users-to-the-least-accessible-pages-on-the-web-audioeyes-2026-digital-accessibility-index-finds-302809944.html

SOURCE AudioEye, Inc.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What is AudioEye's 2026 Digital Accessibility Index and what did it analyze for AEYE?

AudioEye's 2026 Digital Accessibility Index is a large-scale study of web accessibility. According to AudioEye, it scanned over 165,000 pages across 6,100 U.S. and EU domains, identifying where accessibility issues and compliance risks are most concentrated.

How is AI search affecting web accessibility risk according to AudioEye (NASDAQ: AEYE) in 2026?

AI search is routing users directly to interior pages that are less accessible. According to AudioEye, these deeper pages receive about two-thirds of traffic, average 10% more issues than homepages, and appear in roughly 60% of 2025 accessibility claims.

What key accessibility statistics did AudioEye report in its 2026 Digital Accessibility Index?

AudioEye reported that the average webpage contains 62 accessibility issues. According to AudioEye, about 21% of detected issues block critical tasks like completing purchases, submitting forms, or accessing account information, creating both lost revenue risk and increased likelihood of accessibility litigation.

Which WCAG issues are most common in AudioEye's 2026 Digital Accessibility Index findings?

Five WCAG criteria account for 40% of detected issues in the study. According to AudioEye, frequent problems include missing image descriptions, unclear link text, unlabeled buttons and form fields, low-contrast interactive elements, and missing skip navigation, often cited in accessibility litigation filings.

How do EU websites compare to U.S. sites in AudioEye's 2026 accessibility data?

EU websites show more accessibility problems than U.S. sites. According to AudioEye, EU pages averaged 25% more accessibility issues per page, and as European Accessibility Act enforcement increases, this gap represents rising regulatory and financial risk for organizations serving EU customers.

What compliance risks does AudioEye highlight for organizations in its 2026 Digital Accessibility Index?

The index highlights growing compliance and litigation risk across entire sites, not just homepages. According to AudioEye, every page is now a potential compliance failure as AI search reshapes traffic patterns and accessibility regulations, including the European Accessibility Act, expand globally.