Quick answer: AI can suggest layouts, images, and code, while other algorithms can help websites choose or recommend content. These systems do not automatically know what visitors need. A useful website still requires clear information, accessibility, privacy decisions, and testing by people.
A blogger may ask an AI tool for a page layout. An online shop might recommend products based on information available to it. A search engine may display different results for different queries.
These are all ways software can influence what people see online, but they are not the same process. This guide separates those ideas and offers practical checks for freelancers and website owners.
Three Ways Algorithms Can Influence a Website
An algorithm is a set of steps used to perform a task. Some algorithms use machine learning; others follow rules written by a developer. Not every changing website layout uses AI.
| Approach | Example | What still needs checking |
|---|---|---|
| AI-assisted creation | A tool suggests a layout or generates a draft image. | Whether the result is usable, accurate, and appropriate to publish. |
| Personalization | A site displays content based on a visitor’s language choice or other available information. | What data is used, whether the choice is useful, and what privacy rules apply. |
| Recommendations | A site suggests another article or product. | Whether the recommendation is relevant and clearly presented. |
A website can use one of these approaches, several, or none. Two visitors seeing different content does not necessarily mean the page was designed by AI.
Design Ideas Without Chasing Every Trend
Designers can choose from many visual styles: clean layouts, hand-drawn elements, retro graphics, or interfaces inspired by code and terminals. None is automatically more “human” or more useful than the others.
Typography and personality
A distinctive font can give a page character. But if visitors struggle to read the article title or button text, the style may be getting in the way. Test headings and body text on both a phone and a larger screen.
Retro and hand-drawn details
Pixel art, illustrations, and textured backgrounds can support a particular subject or audience. Use them deliberately rather than assuming that a visual trend is suitable for every blog.
For example, a pixel-style icon might work well in an article about game design. A dense legal or financial guide may benefit more from clear spacing and easy-to-read text.
Motion with a purpose
A small animation can show that a menu opened or a form is processing. But movement can also distract people or make a page harder to use. Where relevant, respect the visitor’s reduced-motion setting and make sure important information is available without animation.
A Real Example: Updating Images on This Blog
While updating articles on this blog, I kept larger Blogger-hosted image versions in the article code and used responsive styling so the images fit the available screen width. I then checked how the article images appeared on the blog’s homepage.
That was a useful visual check, but it was not a measured test of search rankings or loading speed. The homepage template can also create or crop its own thumbnail, so the image inside the article and the preview on the homepage may look different.
A larger display size does not create detail that is missing from a small original file. If an image is blurry, check both the original file and the version served by the website.
For more on choosing image formats and file sizes, visit our separate tools site’s guide to optimizing images for the web. Keep the original file if you may need it again.
A Simple Before-and-After Writing Example
A design is more than its colors and images. The words on a button or card should tell visitors what will happen when they click.
The following examples are fictional:
Vague: “Unlock the future of digital possibilities.”
Clearer: “Learn how to resize and prepare images before adding them to your blog.”
The second version gives the reader a more specific expectation. If an AI tool suggests copy, check that the page actually delivers what the words promise.
Use AI for a Small Design Task
Instead of asking a tool to redesign an entire site at once, choose a small part that you can inspect and test. For example, ask it to suggest a content card for an image guide.
The card should:
- Introduce a guide about preparing images for the web.
- Use a clear heading and descriptive link text.
- Fit on a phone screen without horizontal scrolling.
- Avoid animations and invented claims.
Provide HTML and explain the design choices.
Do not change my files or access my server.
The response is a proposal. Before using it, inspect the code and make sure its links, colors, and wording fit your site. A prompt saying “do not change files” is not a security control if a connected tool actually has permission to change them.
Example of a simple content structure
This is illustrative HTML, not a claim that an AI tool produced or tested it. Replace the example link with the real destination before using it on a site.
<h2 id="image-guide-title">Prepare Images for Your Blog</h2>
<p>Learn how to resize and review images before publishing.</p>
<a href="/your-guide-url/">Read the image guide</a>
</section>
The heading describes the section, and the link text tells the visitor where the link leads. Whether the card looks good and fits the page will also depend on the site’s CSS.
A Practical Accessibility and Mobile Checklist
A design should work for the people visiting the site, not just look attractive in a generated mockup.
- Check the phone layout: Open the page on a phone or use a browser’s responsive view. Look for text, buttons, and tables that extend beyond the screen.
- Use readable contrast: Check text against its background. As a general WCAG target, normal text should have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1; applicable exceptions exist.
- Test with a keyboard: Use the Tab key to reach links and controls. Check that the focused item is visible.
- Describe meaningful images: Use alt text that communicates the image’s purpose. Decorative images may need an empty alt="" instead of repeated text.
- Use clear headings: Organize the article so readers can follow it. If the Blogger template already displays the post title as a main heading, avoid adding an unnecessary duplicate title inside the article.
- Review motion: Make sure animation does not hide necessary information, and consider reduced-motion preferences.
A checklist is a starting point, not proof that a page meets every accessibility requirement. Test the actual page and seek additional review when needed.
Performance: Check the Real Page
Large images, fonts, scripts, and animations can affect loading performance. But changing the visual design does not automatically make a site faster or slower in every situation.
To investigate, test the published page with PageSpeed Insights and review its recommendations. Results can vary, so use the report to identify possible problems rather than treating one score as a promise of search rankings.
If you resize or compress an image, compare the result with the original. A smaller file can help reduce transfer size, but too much compression can make text or details difficult to read.
Personalization and Privacy
A personalized feature might use a visitor’s selected language, saved preferences, or other information available to the website. Before adding such a feature, decide what data is actually needed.
- Explain the relevant data practices in your privacy information.
- Review cookies, consent requirements, and applicable rules for your audience.
- Do not upload a client’s private files to an AI service without permission.
- Check the permissions and data-handling terms of connected services.
Collecting more information does not automatically create a better experience. A clear page that works for everyone may be more useful than unnecessary personalization.
What About Search Engines and AI Readers?
Search engines and other software need to access and interpret a page’s content. Descriptive headings, meaningful links, and suitable image alternatives can help people navigate the page and help machines understand its structure.
Write those elements for the page’s real purpose. Repeating keywords in alt text or adding headings solely for a machine does not guarantee rankings. A page should first answer the question its visitors have.
If you use an AI coding tool to suggest changes, review its permissions and proposed code before applying anything. Our guide to AI coding agents for business discusses how to compare tools and keep human review in the workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every modern website use AI to personalize its design?
No. Some sites use AI or other personalization methods, while many pages show the same content to visitors. Responsive layouts and language settings do not necessarily require AI.
Can AI create an accessible website automatically?
It can suggest code or identify some issues, but the result still needs testing. Generated code can contain accessibility and usability problems.
Will a larger image always look better?
No. The original quality, served image size, display size, and compression all matter. A larger file may also take longer to load.
Will an AI-designed page rank higher in Google?
There is no such guarantee. Focus on useful content, a working website, and a good experience for visitors.
Final Thoughts
Algorithms and AI tools can influence how a website is created and what it displays. The site owner still needs to decide who the page serves, what information is reliable, and whether the design works for real visitors.
Bottom line: Use AI for suggestions, then test the real page for clarity, accessibility, privacy, and performance.
Further Reading
- W3C: Images and accessibility — guidance on providing text alternatives for images.
- web.dev: Learn Responsive Design — an introduction to designing for different screen sizes.
- Google Search Central: Image SEO — guidance on images and Google Search.
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