Because your next website audience isn't just humans.
Search is changing. AI systems are increasingly browsing, interpreting, and interacting with websites on behalf of users. The question is no longer just “Can people use my website?” but also: Can AI agents?
Get access to the checklistWhat's inside
This checklist helps you evaluate how prepared your website is for an AI-powered world — based on practical recommendations, emerging best practices, and the latest discussions around agentic browsing.
Are you using real HTML elements, proper labels, meaningful headings, and descriptive links so AI agents can navigate using the accessibility tree?
Is critical content present in the HTML when the page loads, or does it depend on JavaScript or user interaction to appear?
Has Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) been reviewed as part of agent interaction readiness?
Does your website have an llms.txt file that provides a concise summary of its purpose and key links?
Have key tools, forms, or workflows been identified as candidates for structured agent interactions?
Has markdown implementation been considered and tested carefully to avoid content duplication?
Has your website been reviewed using a text-only view to understand how AI agents and screen readers interpret it?
Why this matters
AI agents don't just answer questions. They can perform tasks on behalf of users. That means your website needs to work across all three.
This checklist focuses on the third challenge: Can AI agents actually use your website?
Some recommendations in this checklist have existed for years under accessibility and usability best practices. Others are newer, more experimental, and surrounded by healthy skepticism.
The goal isn't to chase every trend. It's to stay curious, test thoughtfully, and build websites that work well for both humans and machines.
The checklist
Organized into 7 categories. Get access to the full spreadsheet to work through it on your own site.
AI agents use the accessibility tree as their primary roadmap — just like screen readers
Uses real HTML elements such as <button>, <nav>, <main>, <header>, and <footer> instead of generic <div> elements for functionality.
Uses <button> elements for clickable actions instead of clickable <div> or <span> elements.
All form inputs have clear and descriptive <label> elements.
Form labels describe the field purpose (e.g., "Email address") rather than relying only on placeholders.
Forms use appropriate autocomplete attributes (e.g., name, email, tel, street-address, organization).
Headings follow a logical hierarchy (<h1> → <h2> → <h3>) without skipping levels.
Complex or custom UI components use ARIA attributes where native HTML cannot provide the required functionality.
Links use clear, descriptive anchor text rather than vague phrases such as "click here" or "read more."
Critical content must be available without relying on JavaScript or user interaction
Important content is present in the HTML when the page loads, and is not hidden behind user interactions before it becomes accessible.
Server-Side Rendering (SSR) is used for important pages or content.
Critical content does not rely solely on JavaScript execution to become available.
CLS has a new dimension of importance for AI agent interaction precision
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) has been reviewed as part of agent interaction readiness.
An emerging standard for helping AI systems understand your site's content and purpose
An llms.txt file exists in the website root directory.
The llms.txt file provides a concise summary of the website's purpose and key links.
A proposed protocol for surfacing tools, forms, and workflows to AI agents in a structured way
Key tools, forms, or workflows have been identified as potential candidates for structured agent interactions.
Adding structured, readable content alongside HTML for AI systems
Markdown implementation has been tested carefully to avoid duplication issues.
Reviewing your site from the perspective of AI agents and screen readers
The website has been reviewed using a text-only view to understand how AI agents and screen readers may interpret it.
Free. Discover how prepared your website is for the age of AI agents.