Artificial Intelligence, Neurodiversity, and Trust: An Exploratory Overview

Abstract

The paper examines the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI), neurodiversity, and trust. It aims to address the gap in understanding the impact AI has on neurodivergent individuals. First, it provides a general introduction to neurodiversity, highlighting its variations and societal significance. Second, the paper introduces AI, focusing on its potential to support neurodivergent individuals in overcoming challenges related to communication, executive functioning, sensory processing, education and socialization. The paper proceeds by exploring the complexities of trust from a philosophical perspective. It stresses that trust in AI could be seen as “delegated trust,” which is directed towards the developers, regulators, and institutions behind AI systems rather than the AI itself. However, main focus on trust regarding AI is from the end-user perspective. Ultimately, the paper advocates for carefully crafted regulations that balance the benefits of AI for neurodivergent individuals with the risks of over-reliance and the need for strong privacy protections.