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ADHDtime on Air: Can AI Really Help ADHD? The Goblin Tools Story
ADHDtime on Air #16: The Creator of Goblin Tools on AI and ADHD
What happens when AI is designed specifically to support neurodivergent people?
In this episode of ADHDtime on Air, I sit down with Bram De Buyser, software engineer and creator of Goblin Tools, a collection of AI-powered tools used by nearly 2 million people each month. Designed with neurodivergent users in mind, Goblin Tools helps people break down overwhelming tasks, estimate time, write emails, interpret tone, organize thoughts, and reduce the everyday friction of executive functioning.
Together, we explore how Goblin Tools came to life, why thoughtful design matters for neurodivergent users, and how AI can reduce activation energy without replacing human thinking. We also discuss personalization and adaptivity in AI, why AI doesn't have to be perfect to be useful, and what the future of assistive technology may look like for people with ADHD and autism.
A personal note: This episode is not sponsored. I invited Bram because I genuinely use Goblin Tools myself and regularly recommend it to coaching clients when it's an appropriate fit. The web version is free to use, and the mobile app is available for a one-time purchase of about $3, with no subscription required.
Topics discussed• How Goblin Tools was created for the neurodivergent community
• Designing AI that reduces activation energy instead of demanding more motivation
• Why personalization and adaptivity matter in assistive technology
• Balancing AI mistakes with real-world usefulness
• The future of AI and neurodiversity
• Executive function support is often about reducing friction rather than increasing effort.
• AI doesn't need to be perfect to be genuinely helpful.
• Good technology supports independence by conserving mental energy, not replacing human thinking.
Bram De Buyser is a software engineer and the creator of Goblin Tools, a suite of AI-powered productivity tools designed to support neurodivergent individuals with everyday executive function challenges. His work focuses on creating simple, accessible technology that reduces cognitive load while helping users stay independent.
Connect with Bram🌐 https://goblin.tools
Connect with Daniella🌐 https://www.adhdtime.com
🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about ADHD, executive functioning, coaching, and neurodiversity.
Chapters00:00 Introduction to Goblin Tools
01:24 The Creation of Goblin Tools
02:55 The Future of Goblin Tools
03:44 Designing Tools for Neurodivergent Users
09:24 Balancing AI Mistakes and Usefulness
14:16 The Impact of AI on the Future
31:18 Activation Energy in Tool Usage
#ADHDtimeOnAir #ADHDtime #ADHD #ArtificialIntelligence #GoblinTools #ExecutiveFunction #Neurodiversity #Autism #Productivity
View all episodes
By Daniella KaridiADHDtime on Air #16: The Creator of Goblin Tools on AI and ADHD
What happens when AI is designed specifically to support neurodivergent people?
In this episode of ADHDtime on Air, I sit down with Bram De Buyser, software engineer and creator of Goblin Tools, a collection of AI-powered tools used by nearly 2 million people each month. Designed with neurodivergent users in mind, Goblin Tools helps people break down overwhelming tasks, estimate time, write emails, interpret tone, organize thoughts, and reduce the everyday friction of executive functioning.
Together, we explore how Goblin Tools came to life, why thoughtful design matters for neurodivergent users, and how AI can reduce activation energy without replacing human thinking. We also discuss personalization and adaptivity in AI, why AI doesn't have to be perfect to be useful, and what the future of assistive technology may look like for people with ADHD and autism.
A personal note: This episode is not sponsored. I invited Bram because I genuinely use Goblin Tools myself and regularly recommend it to coaching clients when it's an appropriate fit. The web version is free to use, and the mobile app is available for a one-time purchase of about $3, with no subscription required.
Topics discussed• How Goblin Tools was created for the neurodivergent community
• Designing AI that reduces activation energy instead of demanding more motivation
• Why personalization and adaptivity matter in assistive technology
• Balancing AI mistakes with real-world usefulness
• The future of AI and neurodiversity
• Executive function support is often about reducing friction rather than increasing effort.
• AI doesn't need to be perfect to be genuinely helpful.
• Good technology supports independence by conserving mental energy, not replacing human thinking.
Bram De Buyser is a software engineer and the creator of Goblin Tools, a suite of AI-powered productivity tools designed to support neurodivergent individuals with everyday executive function challenges. His work focuses on creating simple, accessible technology that reduces cognitive load while helping users stay independent.
Connect with Bram🌐 https://goblin.tools
Connect with Daniella🌐 https://www.adhdtime.com
🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about ADHD, executive functioning, coaching, and neurodiversity.
Chapters00:00 Introduction to Goblin Tools
01:24 The Creation of Goblin Tools
02:55 The Future of Goblin Tools
03:44 Designing Tools for Neurodivergent Users
09:24 Balancing AI Mistakes and Usefulness
14:16 The Impact of AI on the Future
31:18 Activation Energy in Tool Usage
#ADHDtimeOnAir #ADHDtime #ADHD #ArtificialIntelligence #GoblinTools #ExecutiveFunction #Neurodiversity #Autism #Productivity