We have all seen the movies. You know, the ones where cars are flying in the sky, robots are checking us out at the local market, and computers are planning our days for us.
There’s a lot of discussion regarding this phenomenon we call artificial intelligence. Some are opposed to it, whereas others greatly support it due to its many benefits.
But what exactly is artificial intelligence, also known as AI, and what impact does it have on the executive functioning landscape?
What is AI?
Close your eyes for a moment and tell me the first thing that comes to mind when you think of AI?
If you saw a series of high tech equipment running various programs then you’re on the right track.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the development and use of computer systems to perform various tasks that typically would require human intelligence. Some of these tasks look like speech recognition and decision making.
It is likely that if you have a smart device then you have used AI through a virtual assistant technology like Alexa or Siri.
AI and Executive Functioning
We are only beginning to understand how AI can influence our world.
Already AI is a powerful tool that can be used to boost our productivity and assist in areas where executive functioning might be challenging. Below you’ll find insights into some core areas of living independently and how AI might be changing the landscape for the executive functioning neurodiverse learners.
AI and Planning Daily Routines
As spontaneous and adventurous we may be, at some point in our days, we have to take part in planning. That can look like planning where our next travel destination will be or even simply, what the afternoon is going to look like.
Planning is one of the key executive functioning skills as without it, we can lose track of our goals, miss important deadlines, and have trouble completing our tasks. If you find that planning is an area of difficulty for you, then AI can surely help!
There are several AI tools that can be used to create digital daily schedules across multiple calendars. As these tools get to know you and your habits more, they can help you be more efficient and create better schedules tailored to your neurodiverse needs.
Check out this video from AdhDONE YouTube Channel for how AI tools can be used to create effective daily routines and schedules:
AI and Managing Your Time
Do you ever catch yourself always on the run and still running late?
Ever notice you spend more time than expected on a task and are still running out of time?
Time management is our ability to plan and organize our time in a manner that is efficient and effective. Time management skills are important because they help us “make the most of our time” so we can achieve our goals!
If you need assistance to better manage your time, AI can help. Along with calendar management, AI tools like Reclaim.ai are bridging key research concepts that time management doesn’t just involve putting appointment reminders in calendars, but that healthy brains need decompression time, periods of intensive focus and times for creative thinking. Set up the parameters, and then the AI tool will automatically (and dynamically) adjust when an appointment or task gets rescheduled.
AI apps like Reclaim.ai will also allow you to schedule time to work on healthy habits like getting enough exercise, sleep, or freeing up time for self-care activities like meditation or executive functioning coaching.
See how AI tools can help you with time management in this quick demo:
AI Around the House
Organizational skills go hand in hand with planning and time management skills. In order for us to organize ourselves, we may use different tools such as schedules, planners, or reminders. These tools to plan our days and manage our times thus help us with our organization.
I like to consider organizational skills in both a mental and physical sense. When I think of physical organization, the first thing that comes to mind is my workspace and home. How does my desk look, where are my important files, and how is my room set up for optimal productivity?
AI tools like ChatGPT can give us strategies and step-by-step instructions to organize our home, create grocery lists, or even learn how to spring clean the bathroom closet.
For example, check out these screenshots for a ChatGPT prompt for cleaning the bathroom closet and making a Denver omelet.
In both of these instances, ChatGPT produced seamless, easy to understand results in 15 seconds or less. For neurodiverse learners that struggle around the household and frequently get distracted trying to research household tasks, AI tools like ChatGPT are changing the speed and efficiency of getting these tasks done.
AI and Attentional Control
Whether it’s a notification from social media or a loud sound in the neighborhood, it’s easy to become distracted and lose our focus. Attentional control is an important executive skill as it helps us with focus, resist distractions, and reduce our impulsivities. Our ability to attend impacts our ability to take in information which is then stored and used later on to perform a task.
AI and Our Social Relationships
We’re a long way out yet from machine learning for emotions and complex social behavior of humans. But that doesn’t mean that AI can’t help us better manage our relationships. There’s the obvious steps of having AI automatically schedule calendar reminders to call a loved one or send a birthday card on time. But there’s also help for situations where we might be feeling overwhelmed or unsure how to take the next steps.
AI tools like ChatGPT can offer some basic suggestions on what might be helpful to manage stress:
Or how to have a difficult conversation with a friend when they make a hurtful comment:
AI and Working Memory
Our ability to attend to a task allows for us to take in new information. After this is done, our brains then store this information to later be used to complete multi-step tasks within the present moment such as remembering a phone number or grocery shopping list.
As the ChatGPT notes show above, AI tools can store and generate massive amounts of information that we can easily recall. This frees up working memory for other important tasks. AI tools can also help us quickly assemble thoughts on a topic before diving into deeper research:
AI tools can also help you summarize large amounts of information into condensed “cliff notes” version so it’s easier to understand. This is especially useful for neurodiverse brains, where some days our brain capacity may not be optimal for processing large amounts of information in succinct ways.
ChatGPT took this large copy & pasted email from a professor about final exam deadlines, and condensed it into the key points for a day when it’s too much information to wade through:
Cautions of Using AI
These ideas only begin to scratch the surface of the ways we can use AI tools to benefit our learners and build EF skills.
Although we can see the clear benefits, it should be used with caution for various reasons, including building independence, risks to privacy, and the costs of tech.
Risks of Becoming Dependent on AI
Individuals can certainly use AI to assist their daily living, however, should be wary of becoming heavily dependent on the technology.
It may be great to know Siri is always there to assist you, however, if used too often, one can overlook just how capable we really are of tasks and potentially lose the skill. In order to preserve a skill, you have to “Use it or lose it”!
We don’t yet have data on how individuals may or may not become dependent on AI, but this is likely an area of research that will continue to expand.
Risks to Privacy When Using AI
AI can pose risks to one’s privacy. When using AI, we often disclose a lot of personal information such as names, phone numbers, and even important records. Despite various software protection programs, AI is vulnerable to hackers who can break into systems resulting in a loss of privacy.
One of the biggest complaints heard about AI platforms since their emergence is the lack of disclosure of how input information is used and shared. Neurodiverse learners and caregivers may not clearly understand how private information is stored, shared or who else has access to it.
The Costs of AI
AI may be easy and quick to use, however, it can be costly.
Smartphones nowadays charge up to $1000, and that’s just for the device. When considering phone service, storage memory software, and even phone applications, this can add hundreds to your bill each month. So yes, Siri may be convenient and your membership to your scheduling platform is easy to use, but it can be expensive to maintain.
The Temptation to Cheat with AI
As helpful as AI is for generating ideas, it also introduces the temptation to cheat. To use plagiarized content. To rely on AI to generate all of your reports, communication and emails. Already schools and universities are indicating that the use of AI tools to auto-generate papers and projects is on the rise.
It’s an interesting dilemma. Teachers believe whole-heartedly in the ruinous nature of student papers and projects generated by ChatGPT, yet turn around and use AI anti-plagiarism tools to detect them.
At the same time we teach our neurodiverse teens and young adults to use AI to help them in everyday life, we need to teach them about the dangers of using AI for cheating and in dishonest ways.
Getting Started with AI Tools for Executive Functioning
One of the best ways neurodiverse individuals can build executive functioning skills is to pinpoint the areas of greatest need. To pinpoint where you or your learner might be struggling (or where AI tools may be most helpful), download our free .pdf executive functioning assessment.
Final Thoughts
AI can be beneficial by assisting us with our executive functioning. Whether it’s to help us plan, manage time, organize, attend, and remember temporary information, AI can make daily living easier.
Despite its many uses, it is however important to be aware and cautious of some of the risks it can pose as well.
I personally enjoy using my device’s AI softwares but certainly make sure to do so in moderation.
After all, my device isn’t the only thing that is intelligent!
Further Reading
- Popular Science – What is AI?
- Life Skills Advocate – 5 AI Tools To Help Boost Executive Functioning
- Life Skills Advocate – 7 Organizational Skills to Teach Your Teen
- Life Skills Advocate – Executive Functioning Assessment
- Life Skills Advocate – Executive Functioning 101 Resource Hub
- Life Skills Advocate – What is Executive Functioning?
- Slate.com – You’re Not Going to Like How Colleges Respond to ChatGPT