Can AI help close gaps in access to neurodevelopmental care?
Delayed diagnoses and overstretched services leave many children without timely support. New AI-powered tools are being tested as part of the solution.
In a classroom in São Paulo, a child sits in front of a tablet, absorbed in what appears to be a simple digital game. Shapes move across the screen, colors shift and tasks adapt to each response. To an observer, it looks playful and intuitive. Less visible are the streams of data being collected in the background — eye-movement patterns, reaction times and behavioral cues that can offer insight into how a child processes information.
The software behind the game forms part of a platform developed by Jade, a health technology company headquartered in the United Arab Emirates. Jade is among a growing number of organisations exploring whether artificial intelligence can help address a longstanding challenge in global healthcare: how to identify and support children with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions earlier, more consistently and at scale.
Across many countries, access to diagnostic services remains limited. Shortages of specialists, high assessment costs and long waiting lists mean that children are often diagnosed years after early signs first emerge. These delays can reduce the effectiveness of early intervention, which research has shown can support communication, learning and social development when introduced at younger ages.
For families in low-resource or remote settings, these barriers can be especially pronounced. Formal assessments may require travel to urban centres or private clinics, while ongoing monitoring and personalised support are often difficult to sustain within public systems facing rising demand.
Turning play into data
Jade’s platform, first released in 2021, combines AI-driven analysis with real-time eye-tracking and adaptive 2D and 3D games designed by developmental specialists. As children interact with the games, the system records behavioral signals that are processed by machine-learning models trained to identify patterns commonly associated with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
The company positions the platform as a complement to existing clinical pathways rather than a replacement. Data generated through gameplay is translated into reports for doctors, therapists, educators and caregivers, supporting decision-making across both healthcare and education settings.
By embedding assessment within play, the platform is designed to reduce stress for children while generating consistent data over time. Jade says this approach has supported broader uptake, particularly in school and public-sector environments where engagement and scalability are critical.
Scaling through schools and public systems
Since its launch, Jade reports that its platform has been used by more than 200,000 children across multiple countries, primarily through adoption by schools and public institutions. While private healthcare remains one access route, the company’s most visible use cases have come through integration into public systems.
In Brazil, where the organisation was originally founded, municipal authorities have partnered with Jade to support publicly funded therapy centres. These centres provide AI-assisted assessment and personalized intervention for children from low-income households, with the aim of reducing disparities in access to early support.
In the UAE, Jade has worked with the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority to support neurodivergent children and contribute data-driven insights to early development initiatives. These collaborations reflect a broader trend of public authorities exploring digital tools to supplement existing early-years services.
Language accessibility has also shaped deployment. The platform currently supports English, Spanish and Portuguese, with Arabic and French in development. Multilingual functionality has enabled use across different regions and education systems, while also supporting more inclusive participation in both assessment and intervention.
Founded in 2020 by data scientist Ronaldo Cohin, Jade grew out of academic research and personal experience. Cohin has previously described navigating delayed diagnosis and fragmented support systems as a parent of a neurodivergent child, experiences that helped shape the platform’s focus on early detection, continuous monitoring and accessibility.
The road ahead for AI-assisted care
Jade’s approach has drawn international attention. In January, the company was named a 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize winner in the Health category, receiving a $1 million award to support the scaling of its solution.
Looking ahead, Jade plans to expand further across the Middle East, Latin America and Europe, focusing on partnerships with public authorities, schools and healthcare providers. The company says it is investing in AI development and cloud infrastructure to support growth and improve performance across different settings.
As demand for neurodevelopmental support continues to rise globally, platforms such as Jade illustrate how AI is being tested as part of a broader response. These tools offer new ways to identify needs earlier, standardise data collection and support decision-making across sectors. At the same time, their long-term role will depend on how effectively they are integrated into existing public health and education frameworks.
Whether AI-enabled platforms become a routine component of early-years support will be shaped not only by technological capability, but by sustained investment, regulation and alignment with clinical and educational practice.
Applications for the next cycle of the Zayed Sustainability Prize are now open. Innovators delivering proven solutions across health, food, energy, water and climate action are invited to apply as part of the Prize’s ongoing effort to support scalable real-world impact.