Andrew Begel

Papers

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About

Andrew Begel is a researcher whose work sits at a compelling intersection of human-computer interaction, artificial intelligence, and neurodiversity advocacy. His scholarship has increasingly focused on the ethical dimensions of emerging technologies — particularly how human-like AI systems, including robots and chatbots, engage with and affect neurodivergent communities, especially autistic individuals. Begel's most-cited recent work, "Are Robots Ready to Deliver Autism Inclusion?" (2024, 23 citations), offers a critical examination of how robotics research often perpetuates harmful ideological frameworks — including the dehumanization and infantilization of autistic people — even when ostensibly designed to support them. This paper reflects his commitment to centering marginalized voices in technology design and evaluation. His 2025 follow-up explores how creators of human-like AI navigate ethical responsibilities around neurodivergence and the contested boundaries of "humanness" in computing systems. What distinguishes Begel's contributions is his willingness to challenge assumptions embedded in mainstream HCI and AI research, pushing the field toward more equitable, community-informed approaches. For students and researchers navigating the ethics of assistive and social technologies, his work offers both a critical lens and a call to action for more inclusive design practices.