Beyond Boundaries: AI, the Metaverse, and the Empowerment of Neurodiverse Individuals
Mohamed (Mo) Elbashir
Infra Enablement | AI Governance & Tech Policy | GeoTech | Geopolitics & Regulatory | Empowering Infra-Tech Innovators @Meta | Senior Fellow Atlantic Council GeoTech Center
Let's Cultivate Optimism and Confidence Amidst the Current Whirlwind of AI Hype, Hysteria, and Paranoia
We've been reading a lot of negative media headlines about AI risk in recent weeks, as well as hearing tech leaders and AI scientists comparing threats posed by AI to nuclear weapons. Some believe we are doomed and that AI will lead to human extinction.
I am not dismissing or downplaying AI risks and concerns, such as job displacement, economic Inequality, bias and discrimination, and security and privacy.
That being said, AI will be the technology that augments the sum of human intelligence and allows us to excel in all fields of work and our daily.
Everyone will have access to a sympathetic, knowledgeable, patient, and helpful AI assistant, coach, mentor, trainer, advisor, and therapist in the future. The AI buddy will be there for life's ups and downs, supporting every human in reaching their full potential.
As the father of a wonderful neurodiverse child who transformed my perspective and understanding of Neurodiversity and the importance of embracing our neurological and cognitive differences, I see AI and the Metaverse as enabling technologies that will empower neurodiverse individuals in ways that no other technology or tool has.
What exactly is neurodiversity, and why is it important?
The term Neurodiversity refers to all people's differences. Despite this, it is frequently used in the context of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurological or developmental conditions such as ADHD or learning disabilities (Baumer and Frueh, 2021).
During the 1990s, the neurodiversity movement emerged to increase the acceptance and inclusion of all people while embracing neurological differences. More autistic people were able to connect and form a self-advocacy movement thanks to online platforms. At the same time, an Australian sociologist named Judy Singer coined the term Neurodiversity to promote equality and inclusion of "neurological minorities."
Neurotypical vs Neurodivergent
Neurodiversity can be broken down into two categories of people: those who are neurotypical and those who are neurodivergent.
Neurotypical
Neurotypical is a descriptor that refers to someone who has the brain functions, behaviors, and processing considered standard or typical.
Neurotypical people may have no idea who they are because the subject has likely never come up to them before. These people usually hit all of their developmental and behavioral milestones at the same times and ages that are considered standard for most people.
Once grown, they generally move through life without having to wonder if their brains function in the same way as others do.
Neurodivergent
Neurodivergence is the term for people whose brains function differently in one or more ways than is considered standard or typical.
There are many different ways that neurodivergence manifests, ranging from very mild ways that most people would never notice to more obvious ways that lead to a person behaving differently than is standard in our society. We'll examine the most common types of neurodivergence and the ways they manifest ahead.?
While there are numerous forms of neurodiversity, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is perhaps the most recognized, characterized by differences in communication, learning, and behavior. Individuals with ASD possess a diverse range of abilities, talents, challenges, and needs. While many on the spectrum live independently and communicate effectively, some might struggle to convey their emotions or requirements similar to neurotypicals. The primary hardship for neurodiverse individuals often arises from societal standards that lead to social exclusion and inequality.
Any society thrives on diversity, and neurodiverse people, with their distinct neurological variations, are essential to our collective tapestry.?
Employees who are neurodiverse are more likely to stay with a business and have a higher job retention rate. They bring distinct perspectives and characteristics to the workplace, such as empathy and creativity. Many have also overcome obstacles, making them excellent problem solvers.
With the introduction of AI, AR/VR technology, and, eventually, the Metaverse, powerful tools are being developed to empower and assist neurodiverse people. I'm going to look at some examples below.
AI Enabling Social Interaction
AI has proven to be an effective means of facilitating social interaction for neurodiverse individuals who may struggle with traditional modes of communication. AI-enabled chatbots (e.g., ChatGPT) or other AI assistant tools provide real-time assistance in navigating the complexities of social interaction.
It's essential that neurotypicals (the majority) are both empathetic and knowledgeable about the varied communication styles of neurodivergents (the minority).
It's unfair for autistic individuals to shoulder the entire responsibility of bridging these communication gaps. Technologies, such as AI and the metaverse, can serve as tools to help neurotypicals and those without autism become more adept and comfortable when interacting with neurodivergent individuals.
Embodied, Inc. created "Moxie," a robot to help children improve their interactions with the world around them. The robot employs advanced AI and machine learning algorithms to understand and respond to a child's behavior. It can recognize and recall people, recall previous interactions, and exhibit social and emotional intelligence.
Through regular interactions with Moxie, the child can practice and develop skills such as turn-taking in conversation, empathetic listening, emotion recognition, and other social cues in a low-pressure environment. The child may become more at ease and confident in their interactions with neurotypicals over time.
In this case, AI is a medium that promotes social interaction in a controlled and supportive manner, giving neurodiverse people a tool to help them navigate and feel more comfortable in social situations.
The Metaverse: An Immersive and Supportive Environment
The Metaverse, an immersive virtual world where people can interact seemingly physically, offers enormous opportunities to neurodivergent people. Autistic people increasingly use AR/VR to communicate their experiences, raising awareness of the condition and capturing the cognitive and perceptual differences that define it.
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For Neurodivergent who find social interactions in the real world (the majority) overwhelming or confusing, the Metaverse will provide an alternative environment to learn how to cope with and interact with others in various social situations.
Immersive educational experiences tailored to neurodivergent children's learning styles and needs might benefit them.
Adults may find alternative methods of employment and collaboration in the Metaverse. Neurodiverse adults frequently have unique skill sets that can thrive in the virtual world, such as problem-solving or pattern recognition, making them valuable Metaverse contributors.
AI and Personalized Learning
AI will transform education for neurodivergent students, moving away from the one-size-fits-all model and toward a more personalized approach. Adaptive learning systems will use AI to tailor education content and strategies to each individual's unique learning style.
AI-powered learning systems can track students' progress in real-time and adapt content to their current level of learning.?
The AI detects patterns in the student's responses and tailors the lessons to focus on areas in which the student struggles, resulting in a personalized learning experience.
For example, if a student excels at identifying animals but struggles with shapes, the AI will modify the lessons to spend more time on shapes. It can also change the teaching style based on the child's receptivity to different teaching styles, resulting in a truly personalized education experience.
The key benefit of using VR/AR for educational purposes is reducing distractions during learning.
"The results showed significant positive benefits of virtual reality according to research from The University of Vermont presented at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in April. Dr. Gregory Downing summarized the research findings (Herczyska, 2023).
Assistive Technology and Artificial Intelligence
For neurodivergent people, assistive technology has been a game changer. AI has made communication and everyday tasks more manageable, whether speech-to-text applications for dyslexics or predictive text software for those with motor skills challenges.
AI-powered assistive technology can make digital spaces more accessible to people of all abilities.
Example 1: Microsoft's "Seeing AI" app is intended to help visually impaired people. It employs artificial intelligence (AI) to narrate the world around the user, such as reading text from images, describing physical objects, and even recognizing friends and colleagues.
AI will enable assistive technologies to learn and adapt to the needs of individual users, making them more effective and personalized.
Example 2: Speech recognition systems like Google Voice Access can assist people with mobility issues. These AI systems learn the user's speech patterns, vocabulary, and preferences over time to provide a more accurate and personalized interface.
These examples show how AI is not only improving accessibility but also tailoring assistive technologies to suit individual needs better, thereby improving many people's overall quality of life.
AI Supports Neurodiversity in Employment
By assisting neurodiverse individuals in identifying their unique strengths and talents, AI algorithms are changing the employment landscape. Employers can use these insights to place neurodiverse individuals in roles where their abilities can shine.
A great example of this is "auticon", an IT consulting firm that only hires people on the autism spectrum as consultants. They collaborated with a software company using artificial intelligence to identify potential candidates' strengths and interests. The AI system then matches these skills to relevant job roles in the IT industry.
The AI considers the unique ways that neurodivergent people process information, their attention to detail, and their preference for logical reasoning – all of which are strengths among some autistic people. The outcomes have been encouraging, with the company successfully placing individuals in roles where their unique skill sets are utilized and valued.
Conclusion
The combined power of AI and the immersive possibilities of AR/VR can play a critical role in empowering neurodiverse individuals. For Autistic people to thrive we need non-autistic people to truly accept them and to do more work on bridging the communication differences. In the same way, we work harder when communicating with people from different cultures.
Real inclusion in employment requires personalization of the hiring process when dealing with neurodivergent candidates or employees in the same way that education requires more personalization.
We must ensure that the boundaries we set in AI development benefit neurodivergent individuals, resulting in a more inclusive and empathetic society.
I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences on the intersection of AI, the Metaverse, and Neurodiversity. Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Just so you know, the illustrations featured in this article were generated using an AI tool known as Mid-Journey.
Telecom, media, and technology expert. More than 19 years of business, technical and program management experience in the US, the Middle East and Africa
1 年Thank you Mohamed for shedding light on these encouraging initiatives!
Regulatory Readiness Consultant
1 年Thank you Mo for your forward looking post. I work with a Foundation that helps people with Dyspraxia and Developmental Coordination Disorders in the U.S. While the condition is little known here, we envision a time when it is as well known as Autism. People with Dyspraxia primarily have difficulty with motor coordination and performing tasks such as riding a bicycle, handwriting or driving a car. I believe in the future assistive technologies will benefit those functions. I also think that AR/VR will help with overlapping conditions such as problems with focus and executive function. Imagine your focus starts to shift and your AR/VR glasses remind you about the task at hand and tells you what the next step is. AI can look at your goals for the day and lay out a schedule based on your attention span and ability to shift focus. There are so many possibilities. What we need is a think tank to curate all these products to help the neurodivergent and map them to tech companies for product enhancements. This can speed the time to market and realize the vision so much faster.
Co-Founder and Co-CEO at Mytaverse and LPX Digital Inc.
1 年Fantastic post, Mohamed. This is something the public at large isn’t thinking of that the metaverse, AI, and more can provide to individuals that can use it. Inclusivity is a major asset this technology prioritizes that supports many lives. I’m excited to see what it can do.
General Counsel I Regulatory & Policy Advisor I Chief of Staff
1 年Thanks for sharing Mo, very thought provoking!
A perspective of transformative use that has not been explored as it should, Mohamed. Great advocation for the different ways in which the metaverse, and likewise other innovative technologies, can shape our world for the better.