Neurodivergents & AI: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Featured image by Tara Winstead via Pexels

Hey there, beautiful humans!

Let’s talk about AI and neurodivergent folks. Spoiler alert: it’s complicated. I remember my first ever experience with ai, if you are from my generation you may remember cleverbot or akinator, they were both fun to play but later in life I would use them to help me plan for revision or practice tests. 

This post is for both neurodivergent people curious about AI, and for the employers and developers shaping these tools. Because the truth is: the way AI gets built affects all of us.

If you’re neurodivergent (ADHD, autistic, dyslexic, OCD, or one of the many other ways brains work differently), you’ve probably noticed AI everywhere — from phone apps to job applications to chatbots. And you might be wondering:

Is this going to help me, or just create new problems?

The answer? Both. Let’s break it down: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

What We’re Really Talking About Here

When I say neurodivergent, I’m talking about all the incredible ways our brains are wired differently:

• ADHD brains that leap from idea to idea like caffeinated grasshoppers.
• Autistic minds that see patterns others miss and dive deep into passionate interests.
• Dyslexic thinkers who problem-solve in ways that surprise and inspire.
• OCD brains that notice details that keep the world running smoothly.

We’re not broken. We’re not glitched. We’re just running different operating systems. And honestly? Sometimes our systems have features the “standard” versions wish they had.

But here’s the thing: as AI becomes the gatekeeper at the doors of jobs, schools, and daily life, we need to ask: Does this gatekeeper know how to recognize our kind of brilliance?

The Good: When AI Actually Gets It Right

Photo by Dio Hasbi Saniskoro via Pexels

When AI works with our brains instead of against them, it’s pretty magical.

Your Personal Brain Butler

• Task managers that adapt to you: break work into 15-minute chunks, add visual cues, or batch tasks.
• Energy planners: map your day around realistic energy levels, with breaks included.
• Communication translators: rephrase emails so directness doesn’t come across as rudeness, or decode vague social messages.
• Adaptive learning: text-to-speech, video learning, and bite-sized information.

The Workplace Game-Changer

• A programmer using AI to handle small talk in meetings.
• A designer with dyslexia using AI to catch typos so their ideas shine.
• A project manager with ADHD using AI to track projects without overwhelm.

💡 Quick Win (ND Readers): Try tools like Otter.ai (transcription), Notion AI (task structuring), or Pomofocus (focus timer). Start with just one and see how it fits your brain. I personally use things like chatgpt and claude.ai to improve my writing and how I word things.

The Bad: When AI Misses the Mark

Some of the research on AI and neurodivergence is… bad. Really bad.

The Bias Problem

One study found AI rated the sentence “I have autism” as more negative than “I am a bank robber.” AI systems have absorbed harmful stereotypes and now make life-changing decisions based on them.

Job Hunting Nightmares

AI-powered hiring filters screen for:

• “Normal” eye contact in video interviews
• Conventional career paths
• Communication styles that mimic the majority

The result? Many neurodivergent applicants are rejected before a human ever sees their application.

When ‘Helpful’ Isn’t Helpful

Ever had AI “correct” your communication until it stripped away your authentic voice? Or marked your detailed answer as “wrong” because it didn’t fit the format? Exactly.

💡 Quick Win (Employers/Developers): Run bias audits. Test with neurodivergent users before launch. Build in flexibility so people can customise their experience.

The Ugly: The Bigger Picture Problems

This isn’t just about buggy tools — it’s about how society views different minds.

We’re Not in the Room

Most AI is built without neurodivergent people on the team. Designing without us is like building a wheelchair ramp without asking anyone who uses one.

The Cookie-Cutter Problem

“AI for autism!” as if all autistic people need the same thing. “ADHD-friendly features!” as if every ADHD brain works identically. We need flexibility, not stereotypes.

The Money Barrier

Some of the best accessibility tools cost a lot. That leaves lower-income ND folks stuck with basic (and biased) options, while wealthier users access premium support.

What We Actually Need

Photo by Akil Mazumder via Pexels

• Start With Us, Not About Us → Involve neurodivergent voices from day one.
• Flexibility Over Fixes → Adapt to individuals, don’t force us to fit one model.
• Transparency and Control → No more black-box systems making hidden decisions.

✅ Mini-Checklist for Employers/Developers:

• Test with ND users
• Avoid one-size-fits-all fixes
• Offer customisation
• Be transparent about decisions

Real Talk

The intersection of AI and neurodivergence is messy and evolving. But that’s why we need to be in the conversation — not just as users, but as leaders, developers, and decision-makers.

When tech is designed with neurodivergent people in mind, it doesn’t just help us. It makes things better for everyone. Universal design is both good sense and good business.

So let’s keep questioning, keep pushing, keep demanding better. Let’s build an AI future where all kinds of minds can thrive.

Engagement

✨ We’d love to hear your perspective! Share your experiences on Instagram/LinkedIn and tag @ExceptionalIndividuals — what’s one AI tool that’s helped you, and one that hasn’t?

One More Thing

If you’ve made it this far, thank you. Neurodivergent people have always been innovative, creative, and resilient. We’ve always thrived in a world not designed for us. Now, it’s time to make sure the digital world gets built right from the start.

Keep being your amazing selves. The world — and AI — needs what you bring to the table.