NeuroWise: A Multi-Agent LLM "Glass-Box" System for Practicing Double-Empathy Communication with Autistic Partners

Albert Tang; Yifan Mo; Jie Li; Yue Su; Mengyuan Zhang; Sander L. Koole; Koen Hindriks; Jiahuan Pei

doi:10.1145/3772363.3798437

NeuroWise: A Multi-Agent LLM "Glass-Box" System for Practicing Double-Empathy Communication with Autistic Partners

Albert Tang
, Yifan Mo
, Jie Li
, Yue Su
, Mengyuan Zhang
, Sander L. Koole
, Koen Hindriks
, Jiahuan Pei^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

The double empathy problem frames communication difficulties between neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals as arising from mutual misunderstanding, yet most interventions focus on autistic individuals. We present NeuroWise, a multi-agent LLM-based coaching system that supports neurotypical users through stress visualization, interpretation of internal experiences, and contextual guidance. In a between-subjects study (N = 30), NeuroWise was rated as helpful by all participants and showed a significant condition × time effect on deficit-based attributions (p = 0.02): NeuroWise users reduced deficit framing, while baseline users shifted toward blaming autistic “deficits” after difficult interactions. NeuroWise users also completed conversations more efficiently (37% fewer turns, p = 0.03). These findings suggest that AI-based interpretation can support attributional change by helping users recognize communication challenges as mutual.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	CHI EA 2026
Subtitle of host publication	Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Editors	Nuria Oliver, David A. Shamma, Heloisa Candello, Pablo Cesar, Pedro Lopes, Valentino Artizzu, Fiona Draxler, Gustavo Lopez, Anke V. Reinschluessel, Xin Tong, Phoebe O. Toups Dugas
Publisher	Association for Computing Machinery
Pages	1-5
Number of pages	5
ISBN (Electronic)	9798400722813
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/3772363.3798437
Publication status	Published - 13 Apr 2026
Event	Extended Abtracts of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI 2026 - Barcelona, Spain Duration: 13 Apr 2026 → 17 Apr 2026

Publication series

Name	Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings

Conference

Conference	Extended Abtracts of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI 2026
Country/Territory	Spain
City	Barcelona
Period	13/04/26 → 17/04/26

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 Copyright held by the owner/author(s).

Keywords

AI coaching
autism
communication
double empathy
neurodiversity
perspective-taking

Access to Document

10.1145/3772363.3798437Licence: CC BY

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Persistent link

Cite this

Tang, A., Mo, Y., Li, J., Su, Y., Zhang, M., Koole, S. L., Hindriks, K., & Pei, J. (2026). NeuroWise: A Multi-Agent LLM "Glass-Box" System for Practicing Double-Empathy Communication with Autistic Partners. In N. Oliver, D. A. Shamma, H. Candello, P. Cesar, P. Lopes, V. Artizzu, F. Draxler, G. Lopez, A. V. Reinschluessel, X. Tong, & P. O. Toups Dugas (Eds.), CHI EA 2026: Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 1-5). Article 484 (Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings). Association for Computing Machinery. https://doi.org/10.1145/3772363.3798437

Tang, Albert ; Mo, Yifan ; Li, Jie et al. / NeuroWise: A Multi-Agent LLM "Glass-Box" System for Practicing Double-Empathy Communication with Autistic Partners. CHI EA 2026: Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. editor / Nuria Oliver ; David A. Shamma ; Heloisa Candello ; Pablo Cesar ; Pedro Lopes ; Valentino Artizzu ; Fiona Draxler ; Gustavo Lopez ; Anke V. Reinschluessel ; Xin Tong ; Phoebe O. Toups Dugas. Association for Computing Machinery, 2026. pp. 1-5 (Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings).

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title = "NeuroWise: A Multi-Agent LLM {"}Glass-Box{"} System for Practicing Double-Empathy Communication with Autistic Partners",

abstract = "The double empathy problem frames communication difficulties between neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals as arising from mutual misunderstanding, yet most interventions focus on autistic individuals. We present NeuroWise, a multi-agent LLM-based coaching system that supports neurotypical users through stress visualization, interpretation of internal experiences, and contextual guidance. In a between-subjects study (N = 30), NeuroWise was rated as helpful by all participants and showed a significant condition × time effect on deficit-based attributions (p = 0.02): NeuroWise users reduced deficit framing, while baseline users shifted toward blaming autistic “deficits” after difficult interactions. NeuroWise users also completed conversations more efficiently (37\% fewer turns, p = 0.03). These findings suggest that AI-based interpretation can support attributional change by helping users recognize communication challenges as mutual.",

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author = "Albert Tang and Yifan Mo and Jie Li and Yue Su and Mengyuan Zhang and Koole, \{Sander L.\} and Koen Hindriks and Jiahuan Pei",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 Copyright held by the owner/author(s).; Extended Abtracts of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI 2026 ; Conference date: 13-04-2026 Through 17-04-2026",

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doi = "10.1145/3772363.3798437",

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editor = "Nuria Oliver and Shamma, \{David A.\} and Heloisa Candello and Pablo Cesar and Pedro Lopes and Valentino Artizzu and Fiona Draxler and Gustavo Lopez and Reinschluessel, \{Anke V.\} and Xin Tong and \{Toups Dugas\}, \{Phoebe O.\}",

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Tang, A, Mo, Y, Li, J, Su, Y , Zhang, M , Koole, SL , Hindriks, K & Pei, J 2026, NeuroWise: A Multi-Agent LLM "Glass-Box" System for Practicing Double-Empathy Communication with Autistic Partners. in N Oliver, DA Shamma, H Candello, P Cesar, P Lopes, V Artizzu, F Draxler, G Lopez, AV Reinschluessel, X Tong & PO Toups Dugas (eds), CHI EA 2026: Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems., 484, Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings, Association for Computing Machinery, pp. 1-5, Extended Abtracts of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI 2026, Barcelona, Spain, 13/04/26. https://doi.org/10.1145/3772363.3798437

NeuroWise: A Multi-Agent LLM "Glass-Box" System for Practicing Double-Empathy Communication with Autistic Partners. / Tang, Albert; Mo, Yifan; Li, Jie et al.
CHI EA 2026: Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. ed. / Nuria Oliver; David A. Shamma; Heloisa Candello; Pablo Cesar; Pedro Lopes; Valentino Artizzu; Fiona Draxler; Gustavo Lopez; Anke V. Reinschluessel; Xin Tong; Phoebe O. Toups Dugas. Association for Computing Machinery, 2026. p. 1-5 484 (Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings).

Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

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AU - Tang, Albert

AU - Mo, Yifan

AU - Li, Jie

AU - Su, Yue

AU - Zhang, Mengyuan

AU - Koole, Sander L.

AU - Hindriks, Koen

AU - Pei, Jiahuan

PY - 2026/4/13

Y1 - 2026/4/13

N2 - The double empathy problem frames communication difficulties between neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals as arising from mutual misunderstanding, yet most interventions focus on autistic individuals. We present NeuroWise, a multi-agent LLM-based coaching system that supports neurotypical users through stress visualization, interpretation of internal experiences, and contextual guidance. In a between-subjects study (N = 30), NeuroWise was rated as helpful by all participants and showed a significant condition × time effect on deficit-based attributions (p = 0.02): NeuroWise users reduced deficit framing, while baseline users shifted toward blaming autistic “deficits” after difficult interactions. NeuroWise users also completed conversations more efficiently (37% fewer turns, p = 0.03). These findings suggest that AI-based interpretation can support attributional change by helping users recognize communication challenges as mutual.

AB - The double empathy problem frames communication difficulties between neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals as arising from mutual misunderstanding, yet most interventions focus on autistic individuals. We present NeuroWise, a multi-agent LLM-based coaching system that supports neurotypical users through stress visualization, interpretation of internal experiences, and contextual guidance. In a between-subjects study (N = 30), NeuroWise was rated as helpful by all participants and showed a significant condition × time effect on deficit-based attributions (p = 0.02): NeuroWise users reduced deficit framing, while baseline users shifted toward blaming autistic “deficits” after difficult interactions. NeuroWise users also completed conversations more efficiently (37% fewer turns, p = 0.03). These findings suggest that AI-based interpretation can support attributional change by helping users recognize communication challenges as mutual.

KW - AI coaching

KW - autism

KW - communication

KW - double empathy

KW - neurodiversity

KW - perspective-taking

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DO - 10.1145/3772363.3798437

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:105038101909

T3 - Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings

SP - 1

EP - 5

BT - CHI EA 2026

A2 - Oliver, Nuria

A2 - Shamma, David A.

A2 - Candello, Heloisa

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A2 - Lopes, Pedro

A2 - Artizzu, Valentino

A2 - Draxler, Fiona

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Tang A, Mo Y, Li J, Su Y , Zhang M , Koole SL et al. NeuroWise: A Multi-Agent LLM "Glass-Box" System for Practicing Double-Empathy Communication with Autistic Partners. In Oliver N, Shamma DA, Candello H, Cesar P, Lopes P, Artizzu V, Draxler F, Lopez G, Reinschluessel AV, Tong X, Toups Dugas PO, editors, CHI EA 2026: Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Association for Computing Machinery. 2026. p. 1-5. 484. (Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings). Epub 2026 Apr 13. doi: 10.1145/3772363.3798437

NeuroWise: A Multi-Agent LLM "Glass-Box" System for Practicing Double-Empathy Communication with Autistic Partners

Abstract

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Bibliographical note

Keywords

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