Microsoft's MathML Win and Adobe's AI Alt Text Experiment

Microsoft's MathML Win and Adobe's AI Alt Text Experiment

From Chax Chat Accessibility Podcast by Dax Castro & Chad Chelius

March 3, 2026 · 33 min · Season 6 · Episode 5

About this episode

Dax Castro and Chad Chelius discuss Microsoft's MathML implementation and Adobe's AI alt text feature, highlighting the importance of accessibility in technology.

In this episode of ChaxChat, Dax Castro and Chad Chelius unpack two very different approaches to accessibility innovation. First, they dive into Microsoft's implementation of MathML in Word and PowerPoint and why it represents a genuine win for accessible math. By carrying MathML through to the PDF export with proper tagging and screen reader support, Microsoft demonstrates what it looks like when accessibility is built into the workflow rather than patched on later. They then turn to Adobe InDesign's new AI-generated alt text feature and explore where it helps, where it falls short, and why turning it on by default raises important concerns. The conversation highlights the difference between proven accessibility solutions and experimental AI features, emphasizing the need for human oversight, informed decision-making, and realistic expectations as tools continue to evolve.

People in this episode

Hosts: Dax Castro, Chad Chelius

Topics covered

  • accessibility innovation
  • MathML implementation
  • AI-generated alt text
  • screen reader support
  • human oversight in AI
  • accessible math solutions
  • experimental AI features

Keywords

  • accessibility
  • MathML
  • Adobe
  • AI
  • screen readers
  • Word
  • PowerPoint
  • InDesign
  • alt text
  • innovation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Adobe, Microsoft

Products: MathML, Word, PowerPoint, InDesign

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