Using AI to Create and Practice Social Scripts

In addition to the significant potential for AI to act as a learning tool, AI can help your autistic child create several useful tools that can be utilized in social scenarios. One such item to be created is known as a "social script". In this post, we will explore what a social script is, when it is used, and how your child can use AI to both create one and practice it.

What is a Social Script?

A social script refers to a set of expected behaviors and responses that the average person might showcase during an everyday social interaction. They provide an individual with a mental framework on how to behave in various social situations.

Given the fact that autistic individuals can find communication with their peers to be challenging, a social script can be an extremely valuable tool for them. It can help them navigate more complex social interactions and give them a foundation on which they can act, respond, or react to the actions of others.

An example of a generally accepted social script is greeting someone, introducing yourself, and initiating small talk with the other individual. Learning patterns such as this facilitate smoother communication, which may lead to increased confidence in similar situations in the future.

Creating a Social Script with the help of AI

As an example of social script creation, we will use a scenario in which your autistic child must work in a group with students they are not familiar with on a project. Let's examine some of the steps you should take in creating a script.

1. The first step in using a conversational AI to help with script writing is to define the context of the situation clearly: "I (or "my child") have an upcoming class period where I must work with three other students I do not know on a project. I want to sound confident and engaging when I talk to them."

2. Prompt the AI of your choice to create a realistic dialogue: "Could you create a short social script for introducing myself to them and sharing some of my interests?"

The AI will return something such as:

• You: "Hi, I'm so-and-so. I love to read and watch F1 racing."

• Peer: "Oh, that's awesome! How did you get into F1 racing? I've never watched before."

• You: "My dad is super into it, so I have been watching with him for years..."

3. Refine the script by asking the AI to sound more natural or concise: "Can you make this sound a little more natural, like something I might say casually? Also, please add some notes on pacing."

Using AI to practice your script

After creating your script with the help of AI, you can use the same AI to simulate practice runs. The ChatGPT mobile app, for example, has a vocal feature where you can engage in conversation, not just give and receive typed answers. One might say, "Please act as if you are one of my group members and respond dynamically". Completing several of these simulation runs can give your child an idea of where these conversations might lead and how to navigate them.

After having some practice sessions using the script, ask the AI for some feedback on the exchange. "Do you think my answers came across as confident? Can you point out some points where my answers could have been more empathetic?". In addition, this practice can take place under adult supervision, where a parent may give feedback as needed as well.

Through an interactive process such as this, an AI chatbot can allow your autistic child to practice, adjust, and internalize the social flow of any given conversation before the interaction actually happens. With practice conversations under their belt, your child may acquire better conversational flexibility and confidence in peer-to-peer interactions.