Varying Evolutionary Constraints and Advantages of Autistic Traits Across Societal Stages: The AI Age as a Catalyst for Selective Potential
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Autistic traits—hyper-focus, pattern recognition, systemizing—have faced varying evolutionary constraints across societal stages: hunter-gatherer, agricultural, industrial, technological, and the emerging AI age. This hypothesis posits that early societies valued these traits, but superstitious constraints (e.g., changeling myths) limited their selective advantage until the technological age, with the AI age amplifying their potential through cognitive demand, AI dating, and artificial wombs. Evidence includes historical adaptiveness (Spikins et al., 2018), STEM overrepresentation (Wei et al., 2014), and rising prevalence (1 in 36, CDC, 2020). Assortative mating, epigenetic changes, and cultural shifts shape propagation. Studies using neurodivergent fan bases of social media influencers aim to validate reproductive, sensory, and cultural impacts, seeking interdisciplinary collaboration.
