After a year of buzz and hype around the possibilities that AI could bring to humanity — as well as its potential demise — the conversation is evolving. Can AI be used to empower neurodiverse employees?
As we move into 2024, attention has shifted from hypotheticals to tangible applications of AI in both enterprise and consumer spaces.
The bots in the background are streamlining operations and enhancing customer experiences, offering a glimpse into a future where technology serves as a force for social good.
Yet, amidst this optimism, a critical question lingers: How do we ensure that technological advancement doesn’t leave humanity in its wake?
The tech industry has faced significant challenges, from unrelenting job losses to the looming threat of cyberwars. In some cases, even physical conflicts have been exacerbated by AI-generated misinformation.
However, subtly woven into talks about next-gen connectivity at this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, a different narrative emerged — a burgeoning desire for AI to foster inclusivity and empower marginalised communities.
AI holds transformative potential for neurodivergent individuals and marginalised communities. It promises not just a future of advanced technology but one of greater inclusivity and understanding.
So, how can this potential reshape our workplaces and broader communities?
“Neurodivergent” describes individuals whose cognitive functioning diverges from societal norms.
It encompasses a range of conditions, such as ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia. In the UK alone, it’s estimated that around 15% of the population is neurodivergent. According to the CDC, almost 5.5 million adults in the US have been diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder).
Neurodivergent individuals often face unique challenges in the workplace, particularly in communication and professional relationships.
According to UK-based employment agency Reed, for example, people with ADHD might find it challenging to maintain focus during meetings or require more time to process information.
Similarly, those with dyslexia may struggle with written communication, potentially leading to misunderstandings when following written instructions.
These challenges underscore the necessity for workplaces to adapt. With its vast capabilities, AI offers innovative solutions that can support neurodivergent individuals.
AI-powered tools can assist with communication, comprehension, task management, and focus. The potential for AI to transform the workplace for neurodiverse people is immense.
At MWC, I spoke with Yo-en Chin, a creative technologist from Beek Studios, who collaborated with Deloitte at their Digital Makers Lab.
At the start of each day, the lab devs challenged themselves to identify a problem and ideate, design, and develop a working prototype of a solution by the end of the day.
When I stopped by, the task was “Neurodiverse and Inclusive Customer Interactions: to create a more comfortable customer experience”.
They had set up an idea board that anyone visiting the stand could add suggestions to, and they would incorporate those suggestions into their work — proving the practical utility of genAI while opening essential conversations about the role of AI in society, particularly its impact on neurodivergent individuals.
“So many people have come up to us today to share their personal stories about neuro-divergence”, Chin said, “whether they have it or their kids or people around them.”
She continued, “A big part of why we wanted to do this challenge is that there are a lot of people who are very worried about what AI will do, who don’t trust what AI will do.”
According to Chin, AI should augment, not dictate, human interactions, making them more comfortable and inclusive.
She argued that everyone should support using AI for inclusivity, as improving experiences for neurodivergent individuals enhances them for everyone. According to Chin, inclusive design goes beyond accessibility; it’s about creating systems, companies, and governments that don’t exclude anyone from the experience.
Another person I spoke to while weaving through the sea of IoT-connected F1 cars and robot dogs was Sarit Assaf, a general manager at communications and media service provider Amdocs.
Assaf said AI-powered tools, like generative AI chatbots, are revolutionising the workplace.
Chatbots created based on a particular business’s knowledge and data serve as accessible knowledge bases, allowing employees, especially those new or less experienced, to find information quickly so they can understand the business.
“We’re not replacing people but making them much faster,” Assaf emphasised. As a result, she says, you can employ more diverse and less experienced people.
“That’s what AI does; it democratises data. Now we have access to anyone who isn’t afraid of using the technology, and that’s the key.”
According to Assaf, the barrier is uptake: “From our survey, we learned that 50% of men are using genAI, while only 30% of women are. So, there’s a barrier to entry for different populations. But if we find a way to overcome this barrier, then every person will be able to boost themselves and their skill set.”
Assaf added that by making AI accessible to all, the potential for individual and organisational growth is unlimited.
According to Chin, Deloitte is already working on turning potential into reality.
“Deloitte is a huge company, and there are so many pockets of innovation around AI. We’re also building AI products or AI-enabled services and custom AI products. I know Deloitte has its own AI LLM,” she said.
After the event, I spoke with Matt, an operations specialist for a marketing agency with ADHD. He shared how AI has become integral to his daily routine, simplifying tasks and helping him stay focused.
The clarity and directness provided by AI, mainly through platforms like ChatGPT, have been transformative. “It’s just easier than Google,” he explains.
“It just helps fight through the clutter and stops me from getting overwhelmed with lists and multiple things that I need to sort through,” he added. “You can go off on tangents quite a lot with neurodiversity,” he said; using AI at work makes it easier for him to remain on task.
He also uses Grammarly, an AI-powered writing assistant, a lot. “If you’re someone with dyslexia, you might type out words twice, miss words, or type the wrong word. It’s perfect for picking up on that and correcting you.”
The reliability and biases inherent in AI systems also emerged in my conversation with Chin.
She remarked: “AI reflects our current systems, amplifying existing biases rather than solving them. We must confront these biases head-on, using them as a starting point for more inclusive design.”
A point similarly articulated in an open letter published this week by San Francisco-based venture fund SV Angel titled “Build AI for a Better Future.”
The letter, signed by leading companies like OpenAI, Salesforce Inc., Google, Meta, and Microsoft, outlines a perspective on AI’s potential to significantly enhance human life, from AI tutors that democratise learning to AI-powered medical diagnostics that promise to revolutionise healthcare.
Echoing sentiments shared by Chin and Assaf, it underscores the belief that AI’s ultimate impact on humanity will be determined by our collective efforts to harness its potential responsibly.
Using AI in a business increases employee productivity and morale, as demonstrated by Matt’s experience and the insights from Chin and Assaf.
According to Reed, “Those with invisible disabilities and neurological differences will feel especially grateful to employers for creating a supportive and inclusive environment where using AI is encouraged, and assistive technology is normalised and available to all who might need it.”
The promise of AI in this context is not merely to accommodate but to empower, offering new pathways for neurodivergent individuals and marginalised groups to thrive professionally.
To Assaf’s point, by focusing on ethical AI development and reducing barriers to access, we can leverage technology to empower all individuals, regardless of their background or abilities.
As the conversation evolves, Chin concludes it’s an important issue we must confront.
“We shouldn’t shy away from hot topics like AI. It’s not just about great money-making use cases; there’s a big section of people affected by it that we should discuss more,” she adds.
“Design that includes everyone always provides the best experience and will always serve people the most. Addressing these biases is like one step towards a more inclusive society.”
Read the next article in this series: automating DEI in hiring and promoting
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