Can AI Help with ADHD? Building Trust, Not Just Tools ft. Chris Wang of Shimmer

Can AI actually help with ADHD or is it just another tool that overpromises? If you’ve searched “best AI apps for ADHD,” you’ve probably found generic productivity app lists that weren’t built with ADHD brains in mind at all. Shimmer’s Indie was and its CEO has spent years figuring out where that distinction actually matters. Amber Krasinski and Erick Grau sit down with Chris Wang, co-founder and CEO of Shimmer, a coaching platform built for adults with ADHD, and creator of Indie, a free AI-powered support app. Chris was diagnosed with ADHD in her late 20s while in Berkeley’s Haas MBA/MPH program, is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, a Y Combinator alum, and an ICF-credentialed coach. For marketers and PR pros: a real case study in trust-building with a skeptical audience. Chris walks through how she messaged an AI launch to an Instagram community that didn’t want AI anywhere near their mental health data, why shame-based product mechanics actively harm neurodivergent users, and how “The Mom Test” changed how she interviews users before building anything. For the tech and AI crowd: Chris gets specific about where AI outperforms a human coach and where it fundamentally can’t. Erick and Chris also dig into the “harness vs. brain” distinction — why the LLM matters less than the guardrails and workflow built around it — and the real difference between using AI to do something for you versus using it to get better at doing something yourself. What We Cover: Why generic productivity apps fail ADHD users, and what Indie does differently Why women and ADHDers both underuse AI, and what’s actually driving that adoption gap How Indie is designed to end conversations, not extend them — the opposite of most AI product incentives The Mom Test framework for user interviews that don’t just produce flattery Why shame-based mechanics (app streaks, guilt-based nudges) backfire for neurodivergent users Chris’s data protection approach for deeply personal information Using AI to build capacity vs. using AI to do the task for you Frequently Asked Questions: Can AI actually help with ADHD? Yes, but only when it’s purpose-built. Shimmer’s Indie is designed around ADHD-specific research and user feedback, not repurposed general productivity software. What are the best AI apps for ADHD? Chris Wang recommends looking for apps that build your capacity over time rather than ones that simply do tasks for you with no skill transfer. Can AI replace a human coach? No. Shimmer’s own AI tool, Indie, is explicitly built as a support tool, not a coach replacement, because human accountability can’t be automated. Why do women underuse AI tools compared to men? Trust and stigma, not ability: late ADHD diagnosis, masking, and judgment around “needing help” all play a role. Key Takeaways: 1. The best AI apps for ADHD are purpose-built, not generic productivity tools with an AI layer added on 2. The real AI adoption gap is about trust, especially for women and neurodivergent users 3. Before building any AI feature, ask what problem it solves, not just what it’s capable of doing 4. Shame-based product design undermines the people it claims to help Guest: Chris Wang, Co-Founder & CEO, Shimmer — shimmer.care | Instagram: @adhd.christal 🔔 Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes exploring the worlds of emerging tech, marketing, PR, and cybersecurity. 🌐 Visit us at ctrlaltpr.com 📲 Follow Ctrl + Alt + PR on LinkedIn and Instagram @ctrlalt.pr