Explore the fascinating intersection of ADHD and AI as the hosts dive into executive function and its importance. Discover various AI tools that assist with planning, self-management, and task organization. The conversation touches on the ethical considerations of using these technologies, stressing the balance between assistance and authentic effort. Plus, learn how to optimize your interactions with AI for better results without falling into the trap of over-reliance.
Understanding executive functions is crucial for individuals with ADHD, as these skills impact daily task management and emotional regulation.
AI tools like large language models can effectively assist with executive functions by generating actionable plans, though users should refine results to maintain authenticity.
Deep dives
Understanding Executive Functions
Executive functions are essential mental skills that enable individuals to plan, manage themselves, and respond appropriately to various situations. These functions include working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control, which are crucial for navigating daily tasks and long-term goals. For example, working memory allows individuals to hold and utilize information actively, as seen when someone tries to follow a recipe but forgets the next step after getting distracted. The relationship between executive functions and self-regulation highlights how deficits in these areas can significantly impact individuals with ADHD, complicating their ability to manage behaviors, emotions, and thoughts effectively.
Leveraging AI Tools for Assistance
AI tools, particularly large language models, can be valuable for individuals looking to outsource tasks related to executive functions. These tools can assist in creating outlines or plans by generating starting points based on user prompts, thereby mitigating the overwhelming feeling associated with a blank page. For instance, asking a language model to generate a packing list or help plan a weekly schedule allows users to approach tasks step-by-step without mental overload. However, users should utilize these tools as aides rather than relying on them completely, ensuring that they check and refine the results to fit their own needs and standards.
Choosing the Right Tools
When selecting tools to assist with executive functions, it’s crucial to focus on solving specific problems rather than chasing after the latest trends. Tools like Goblin Tools can break down complex tasks into manageable parts, making it easier to get started. Applications like Todoist and project management platforms such as Trello and Asana can enhance productivity by prioritizing tasks based on individual workloads and deadlines. Ultimately, understanding the distinct needs that tools must address can ensure that they effectively support users in managing ADHD, rather than becoming distractions themselves.
While AI has become a buzzword that has lost much meaning, there are still many use cases that can help with our ADHD. One of the places that I have been enjoying exploring is how I can outsource some of my executive functions to these applications so that I can save my brain for the important stuff.
In today’s episode, we’ll first examine executive function so that we know what we’re really working with here. Then, we’ll explore a number of tools that we can use—from large language models (LLMs) to tools to help with your calendar, and even smaller tools fit for goblins.
Also, before we get into anything about AI, I do want to make a quick disclaimer about some of the ethics of using these tools and also how they were created. While these tools can be great in assisting with what we create, it’s also important that we’re still doing our own work and not passing off what LLM did as our own work. I have been using some of these tools to help create episodes, and even cite some of the ways I am doing so in this episode. But what I’m not doing is feeding a prompt into an LLM and just using that. That would be lazy, irresponsible and not something that anyone wants. However, just because I’m not doing that doesn’t mean that other people aren’t—this is something to particularly look out for with new books about ADHD that aren’t coming from established authors and creators.
Additionally, there are ethical concerns about how the training data for many of the LLMs was obtained. This is especially a concern in regard to the lack of content used to source this material. This has been seen more in terms of art and how those models are trained without the artist's knowledge, but it also applies to written word. While I still have been using these systems, I think it is important that we encourage more ethical sourcing of training data and only using data with consent. If you’d like to send me a question answer on the show feel free to head over to hackingyouradhd.com/contact and click the orange button Support me on Patreon Ask me a question on my Contact Page Find the show note at HackingYourADHD.com/192This Episode's Top Tips
We can better understand executive function through the lens of self-regulation. There are three core areas that we can look at here: working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control.
Tools like LLMs can help us create starting points for our work. By prompting the LLM to ask us questions instead it can help us better think through our problems.
When looking to add a new tool to your repertoire, think about what problem it is going to be solving for rather than just looking for the new shiny.
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