ADHD & AI: A Powerful Pairing for Productivity & Creativity

As someone with ADHD, I've long struggled with the challenges of staying organized, maintaining focus, and catching those pesky typos and grammatical errors. It's an ongoing battle that many in the ADHD community can relate to. This week’s podcast episode opened my eyes to how AI, can be a game-changer for those of us with atypical brains.

In the latest episode of ADHD FM I spoke with Janel Stewart Leatherman, an event professional who was diagnosed with ADHD at age 45. Janel shared how discovering AI has transformed her approach to tasks that used to be a major pain point. "I felt like I had rubbed the lamp and a genie had come out," she described, explaining how AI has become a collaborative partner in everything from brainstorming to email writing to meeting note-taking.

Janel’s experience echoes a recent article in The New York Times, which explored how AI chatbots are proving particularly helpful for those with ADHD. As the article notes, the ability to quickly dump ideas into a text field, get feedback, and refine them can be a game-changer for the ADHD brain, which often struggles with the friction of starting a task.

But Janel is quick to caution that AI should be used as a tool, not a crutch. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining one's own authentic voice and not letting AI completely replace human decision-making. "It should be a consultant, and it should not replace your learning," she advises.

The ethical and environmental considerations around AI use are also important to keep in mind. As the Times article points out, there are valid concerns about AI's potential biases and the energy-intensive nature of large language models. Janelle suggests being mindful of privacy, fact-checking outputs, and understanding the fine print when using these tools.

If you're an ADHDer looking to harness the power of AI, Janel's advice is to approach it with intention and self-awareness. Experiment, but don't let it replace the unique strengths of your neurodivergent brain. With the right balance, AI could be the productivity partner you never knew you needed.

🎧 For the full story listen to Episode 5 of ADHD FM wherever you get your podcasts.