Hyperfocus with Rae Jacobson What could the AI boom mean for neurodivergent people?
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Sep 25, 2025 Dr. Amy Gaeta, an AI ethicist and researcher at the University of Cambridge who is autistic, dives deep into the intersection of AI and neurodiversity. She discusses how AI can be both beneficial and harmful in the workplace, highlighting its potential biases against disabled individuals. Amy explores the role of assistive technology and practical AI applications, while addressing the risks of chatbot therapy. She provides a thoughtful look at the future of AI, advocating for community-led models that prioritize accessibility and justice for neurodivergent people.
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Know The Basic AI Terms
- Remember core AI terms: AI automates tasks, LLMs are trained text models, and chatbots use LLMs for specific tasks.
- Use this vocabulary to evaluate tools and their claimed functions.
Everyday AI As Assistive Tech
- Amy describes disabled people using apps to identify objects or practice social scripts with chatbots.
- People also use LLMs to offload administrative tasks to preserve cognitive energy.
AI's Narrow Model Of Intelligence
- AI is built on a narrow Western idea of intelligence that may conflict with neurodivergent conceptions of minds.
- This mismatch can limit how well AI supports diverse ways of thinking and learning.