Autism and AI

Greetings Earthlings,

This week I’d like to discuss a bit of a hot button topic at the moment- Artificial intelligence (AI).

Once upon a time, AI used to mean that atrocious Steven Spielberg film, but now AI is creeping into our every day lives. Chat-bots, deepfakes, AI research models, advanced searches and content recommendations- we can’t escape it. The applications are seemingly limitless, with great potential for people with autism.

But first things first, what exactly is AI?

AI is the technology that enables computers and other digital devices to do the things that humans do like read, write, learn, talk, analyze etc. While not human, the combination of human-like abilities and machine thinking can make it a powerful tool to be reckoned with.

So how can we leverage AI when it comes to autism?

Now here’s where things get cool. Robots are being used to help manage autism! Researchers are training robots how to interact with children with autism so that autists can get practice identifying facial expressions and social cues and help them to learn how to respond appropriately. Robots are the ideal companions as they have limitless patience and allow autists to practice their skills in a safe, non-judgmental environment. There are also a number of new AI apps that similarly work to help autists to practice their social skills, with AI technology being used to help move and learn what works best for the autist and help suggest the right kind of calming exercises depending on their mood.

In addition, AI models can be used to study the MRI’s of autists to help us better understand the condition, particularly how neurological changes and autistic traits vary between neurodivergents.

Most recently new AI systems has been developed that can quickly and accurately diagnose autism- one system by measuring how water travels in the brain by analyzing MRI images; and another that detects autism by measuring responses to a flash of light in the eye. This could revolutionize how we diagnose autism, allowing autists to get access to services sooner for better overall outcomes. Other cool AI apps allow parents to upload videos of their child’s behaviours to be analyzed by clinicians for remote diagnosis using AI to help categorize and assess them.

On the other hand, AI is a force that we must be careful with. It has great potential for use, but we need to be careful where we tow the line. This is especially true of Elon Musk’s Neuralink- a computer chip that can be implanted in the human brain, allowing us to control mobile devices through the power of thought. This week saw the first reported successful (though the evidence remains to be seen) implant where the patient has recovered well and is able to control a mouse on a screen with their brain. What was once the stuff of science fiction is rapidly becoming a reality. Aside from these tech applications, Musk claimed in 2019 that Neuralink has untapped medical potential to help “solve” neurological diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Schizophrenia and…. autism.

Now… this was naturally met with a lot of backlash from autism charities- especially given that Musk has openly discussed how his autism has contributed to his success. Autism is a different way of thinking, it is not something that the majority of autists would like to “solve”. New approaches to help autists navigate life in a neurotypical world yes, but most would not wish to get rid of their autism if given the choice. Would modifying autistic traits through AI really help autists, or could it make things worse by taking away our unique way of thinking?

It’s a very fine line we tread, so we must proceed optimistically with caution when applying AI to autism.

Hope you enjoyed (or were horrified by) this post dear Earthlings!

Have a lovely weekend!

Aoife