AI-assisted checks
PAC 2026 goes beyond traditional testing mechanisms. In addition to automated testing of technical criteria according to PDF/UA and WCAG, the tool now also performs AI-supported tests that identify areas that previously required human judgment.
For example, it is not technically possible to clearly identify whether a section in a document is a heading or plain text. Conventional software cannot reliably assess this. With its new AI functions, PAC 2026 analyzes the document content and automatically recognizes structural elements such as headings, paragraphs, lists, and tables.
The AI thus provides valuable information about possible errors or inconsistencies in the semantic structure. For example, it indicates when a visually highlighted heading is not correctly marked up or when an image is included in the document without a tag.
AI-supported checks do not replace human judgment. They are intended to facilitate it. They help to identify potential problem areas more quickly and evaluate the quality of documents more efficiently. The AI results should therefore be understood as supporting information, not as official technical criteria.
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Frequently asked questions about AI-assisted checks (FAQ)
Will PAC 2026 access the internet for AI testing?
No. The AI model is delivered with PAC 2026 and runs entirely locally. PAC does not access the internet in any way.
Does PAC 2026 check the correctness of alternative texts?
No. To formulate or check alternative texts, a so-called large language model (LLM) is required, as used by ChatGPT, Gemini, and other well-known AI applications. Such a model would be far too large to deliver with PAC. It is not an option for PAC to send data to AI servers on the internet. Therefore, alternative texts are not checked.
Does PAC 2026 check the correctness of the reading order?
No. This should still be checked by a human. PAC has a screen reader preview function for this purpose.
How does AI recognize a paragraph as a heading? Is bold font decisive for this, for example?
The AI does not automatically classify every bold font as a heading. The decisive factor is the combination of formatting, position, structure, and context in the document. Only when several characteristics indicate a heading does the AI issue a notification.
Does AI recognize the details of tables or lists?
No. AI recognizes tables or lists as a whole, but not individual elements such as rows, columns, or list items.
Does the AI in PAC 2026 continue to learn locally on its own?
No. The AI does not continue to learn locally. It is a static, non-adaptive model and does not change on the device.
Can an AI error be ignored so that it is no longer displayed?
No. Individual AI results cannot be manually ignored or hidden.
Does AI checking slow down other checks? Are the PDF/UA results only visible once the AI has finished?
No. The AI check runs parallel to the previous checks, which are only slowed down slightly. The PDF/UA and other results can already be checked while the AI checks are still running.
Here you will find further answers to frequently asked questions about PAC.