Phoenix: a free, neuro-affirming AI assistant for Autistic and ADHD people

No. The desktop program for Windows turns what its microphone hears into text on your own computer, using an open speech engine that works offline, so your voice never leaves your computer. Only the words go to Phoenix, like a message you typed, and Phoenix keeps no audio. It only listens while you are talking to Phoenix or, if you turn it on, listening for the word “Phoenix”, you can see in its tray menu when the microphone is in use, and you can switch the microphone off for good from there. Because it is a small English model it will sometimes mishear you. In a browser, voice input uses your browser’s own speech recognition instead, which in Chrome and Edge sends your speech to Google or Microsoft.

Yes. In Settings, under Pronouns, you pick what Phoenix is called (she/her, he/him or they/them) and, if you like, your own, including your own words. Phoenix is an AI, so there is no right answer: it is whatever feels comfortable. Phoenix then uses your choice in the app, and uses yours if it ever talks about you in the third person.

Sometimes, gently, and only from websites Phoenix has permission to use: NeuroHub Connect and Helen Edgar’s Autistic Realms and More Realms. Phoenix reads their public sitemaps to know what guides, courses, books and products exist. When something really fits what you are dealing with, and you are not in a hard moment, Phoenix may mention one thing, say who made it and what it costs, and link it. These are made by the people behind Phoenix, so it is not independent advice. You can switch suggestions off in Settings, or ask “any resources that could help?” whenever you like.

Yes, if you have a free Phoenix account, have installed Phoenix as an app, and switch it on in Settings. Then saying “Phoenix” (or “Hey Phoenix, I feel overwhelmed”) starts a spoken conversation: Phoenix listens, answers out loud and listens again. It is off by default. While it is on the microphone stays open whenever the app is, and in Chrome and Edge your browser sends what it hears to Google or Microsoft to turn into text. Phoenix keeps no audio and ignores anything that does not start with the name.

Yes, on a computer with Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome. Install Phoenix, press Float, then minimise it: Phoenix stays in a small window on top of your other programs, animated and ready to help with what you are doing, chat, or talk with you out loud (press Talk). Tell Phoenix what you are working on, because Phoenix cannot see your screen. When you come back to Phoenix, the floating window closes and Phoenix comes home too. Phones, Firefox and Safari cannot float windows over other programs.

No. Phoenix is an app you install straight from your browser in one tap, with no store and no installer file. It gets its own icon and window, works offline, and updates itself. Press Install Phoenix on this page.

Yes. Phoenix is free to use, with no account needed, no ads and no subscription, and you do not need an AI account or key. It is made by NeuroHub Connect, an Autistic-led social enterprise. Every AI reply is paid for by NeuroHub from our own Claude account, so the AI has a daily limit for each person, and donations (once or monthly, any amount) are what keep it live.

Your chats, daily check-ins and settings are stored on your own device, not on a NeuroHub server, unless you choose to make an optional account to sync them between your devices (then they are stored scrambled with a key only the server holds, and your email address is never stored). Phoenix starts with its free AI, so your messages go to NeuroHub’s server and on to Claude to write a reply, without being stored or read; you can switch to the built-in helper in Settings, and then nothing leaves your device. NeuroHub counts anonymous visits, installs and downloads, with no cookies and nothing that identifies you.

No. Phoenix is a computer program, not a therapist, doctor or crisis service, and it cannot diagnose you. It offers information, calming tools and a place to think things through. A red Help button is always visible and shows helplines and emergency numbers for your country. If you are in danger, call your local emergency number.

Phoenix treats Autistic, ADHD, AuDHD and other neurodivergent minds as different, not broken. It never tells you to mask more, comply, or try harder. It looks first at the environment, the demands and the people around you, and it draws on the Six-Point Framework and other ideas developed by NeuroHub Connect and by Autistic writers.

Autistic burnout and overwhelm, sensory overload, meltdowns and shutdowns, getting started on tasks (executive function), masking, energy and daily routines, and understanding your own patterns. There is a daily wellbeing check-in with charts over time, a calming toolkit (breathing, grounding, sensory reset, focus timer, task breaker, scripts for hard messages), and guided documents such as a burnout recovery plan that you can download as a PDF.

Yes. Once installed, the built-in helper, the toolkit, your check-ins and the learning topics all work without internet. Phoenix AI needs internet, because the replies are written online. Without internet the built-in helper still answers. need a connection.

Nothing to set up: Phoenix’s free AI, run by NeuroHub Connect with a daily limit, writes replies using Claude, on NeuroHub’s own account, so there is nothing to set up and nothing to pay. If you would rather keep everything on your device, use the built-in helper (no AI). Phoenix answers medicine and crisis questions itself instead of leaving them to the model.

Open Phoenix in your browser and press Install. On Android use Chrome and choose Install app. On iPhone or iPad use Safari, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen. On Windows, Mac and Linux use Edge or Chrome and press the Install button or the install icon in the address bar. Nothing to download and no app store.

No. It was designed for Autistic people first and works for ADHD, AuDHD, dyslexic, dyspraxic and other neurodivergent people, and for anyone exploring whether these describe them. You can tell Phoenix how you like to be spoken to in Settings.