Neurodivergence and AI
1 min readByJosh Camden
Anyone with Neurodivergence who has interacted with AI yet? I'm asking because i've noticed ND people tend to be bottom-up processors, while Neurotypicals tend to be top-down processors. AI also functions as a bottom-up processor intrinsically making communication with ND people easier. I feel like its related to the double empathy problem. Either way, it seems like ND people may have an advantage when communicating with AI.
I also have alexithymia, and i've been able to use AI as a reactive diary. It allows me to think through events, receive feedback, and makes figuring things out about myself much easier.
Anyone else have a similar experience or thoughts?
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Heather Namias•recently•edited
Me too. I was just telling someone today that AI has been instrumental in helping me work out problems, ask questions and receive guidance, etc.
side note My friend is concerned about AI and it's impact on the environment, to which I say AI will be the reason big tech finally figures out a way to make energy free for all.. I'm a wishful thinker.
If it wasn't for ai I wouldn't have found this website tonight, true story.
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Neal White•recently•edited
I hadn't heard of alexithymia prior to this, but I certainly do have trouble recognizing emotions in others and myself. While I do have aphantasia, I am also on the (high functioning side) of the autism scale, which I think might contribute more to my issues. I do think aphantasia is why I am partially face-blind. (I recognize faces with great difficulty.)
I've been able to make great use of AI, but I'm a computer programmer and I find relating to computers and machinery is easier than with people, so that could be the reason. For me, AI is just another tool, which I use for research and investigation, as well as writing "first pass" algorithms, which I then carefully review and tweak.
I treat AI as a capable assistant, who doesn't always listen carefully, and has an occasional malicious urge to sneak bugs into the code, which is why I always ask the AI for references (and verify them!) on anything important.
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Josh Camden•recently•edited
The face blindness can be its own thing, but there is a strong connection between that and aphantasia as well as autism so it may not be a single thing but a combination.
Everyone knows that autism is a spectrum but we don't typically interact with spectrums so it can seem a little confusing from the outside. Its impossible to have more or less autism any more that the color red cannot be more or less of a color. i know that insurance categorizes it with levels leading to the disconnect. We can and do have different types and amounts of need. The DSM-6 is currently being built and i hear that there is a strong push to reclassify autism yet again, but this time using profiles of support which would provide an idea of someone's particular collection of advantages and needs.
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Neal White•recently•edited
"Its impossible to have more or less autism".
Right, that's why I said high functioning, not less or minor. Autism wasn't talked about when I was a kid. I only realized I fit the profile a few years ago. It's helped me a lot, to understand and improve myself.
Back to the subject of AI...
I really worry about the impact it will have on society and the world.
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Heather Namias•recently•edited
How so?
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Josh Camden•recently•edited
If insurance companies incorporate AI as an interface, i imagine that people will be oversharing their medical details with the very companies that shouldn't have that information in the first place. Does HIPAA even apply when you are sharing your info freely with AI? Not to worry, we'll get AI regulation right after it causes undisputable harm.
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