AI Eye-Tracking Gets Expert Backing to Speed Early Autism Screening

BOSTON, MA – January 06, 2026 – Digital health innovator EyeContactDX has enlisted one of the world's foremost developmental pediatricians, Dr. Carol Weitzman, as a senior advisor, a strategic move that signals a major push to transform early autism spectrum disorder (ASD) screening in primary care. The partnership aims to accelerate the adoption of the company's AI-powered eye-tracking technology, a tool designed to replace subjective questionnaires with objective data and shorten the often-painful delay between a parent's first concern and a child's diagnosis.

For years, the standard of care for early ASD screening in a pediatrician's office has relied on parent-completed checklists. While valuable, these methods are subjective and can be influenced by cultural factors, parental stress, or implicit bias, often leading to a lengthy and uncertain path to a specialist. EyeContactDX is one of a new wave of companies leveraging technology to close this critical gap, and the appointment of Dr. Weitzman lends significant clinical weight to its mission.

A New Lens on Early Detection

At the heart of EyeContactDX's approach is a sophisticated yet accessible technology. The company has developed a proprietary system that uses advanced computer vision and artificial intelligence to analyze a child's eye movements as they watch short videos on a standard commercial tablet. This non-invasive, operator-free process searches for subtle, involuntary eye-tracking patterns that have been identified as potential biomarkers associated with ASD.

The goal is to provide pediatricians—the front line of children's health—with an objective, data-driven risk assessment tool that can be seamlessly integrated into a routine well-child visit. Unlike other emerging diagnostic aids that may require expensive, specialized hardware or dedicated technicians, EyeContactDX’s solution is designed for scalability and affordability, running on off-the-shelf devices already common in many clinics. This focus on accessibility is central to the company's strategy for widespread adoption.

“We are at a pivotal moment where AI and Digital Health intersect with routine pediatric care,” said Aryeh Taub, PhD, CEO of EyeContactDX, in a statement. He emphasized that the technology is designed to empower pediatricians with objective data, not replace their clinical judgment, allowing for more confident and timely referrals for further evaluation.

The Credibility of a Clinical Titan

The engagement of Dr. Carol Weitzman is more than a high-profile appointment; it is a powerful validation of the company's clinical direction. Dr. Weitzman is a towering figure in developmental-behavioral pediatrics, holding roles as a Professor Emeritus at Yale School of Medicine, an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, and Co-Director of the Autism Spectrum Center at Boston Children's Hospital. Her extensive leadership includes past presidencies of the Society for Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics (SDBP) and chairing the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics.

Crucially, Dr. Weitzman has been a key author of clinical guidelines that shape how pediatricians across the country approach developmental screening and ASD care. Her work has consistently focused on practical, evidence-based solutions for front-line providers and on reducing disparities in diagnosis. Her decision to advise EyeContactDX underscores a belief that such technology is a necessary evolution in the field.

"Primary care providers are on the front lines of early childhood development, yet they often lack objective tools to support effective screening practices," Dr. Weitzman stated. "EyeContactDX's technology represents a significant leap forward in our ability to screen for ASD risk efficiently and objectively. I am honored to advise the team and help integrate this innovation into daily practice, ensuring that more children receive the timely attention and care pathways they deserve."

Closing the Gap in Health Equity

Dr. Weitzman's advisory role brings a sharp focus to one of the most persistent challenges in autism care: health equity. Research has consistently shown that children from minority, low-income, or rural backgrounds are often diagnosed with ASD years later than their more privileged peers, if at all. This delay means they miss out on the crucial window for early intervention services that can dramatically improve long-term outcomes.

An accessible, low-cost, and objective screening tool directly confronts these disparities. By placing a powerful diagnostic aid in local primary care offices, the technology can reduce reliance on scarce and geographically concentrated specialists. This could democratize access for families who cannot afford to travel long distances or navigate complex healthcare systems. Furthermore, by relying on objective biomarkers rather than subjective reports, the tool has the potential to mitigate the effects of implicit bias or cultural misunderstandings that can contribute to diagnostic delays in underserved populations.

Dr. Weitzman's own research, including a 2025 publication on training primary care clinicians to diagnose ASD and her work with the "Supporting Access for Everyone (SAFE) Initiative," aligns perfectly with this goal. Her guidance will be pivotal in ensuring the technology is implemented in a way that actively reduces, rather than reinforces, existing health inequities.

An Evolving Landscape of Objective Screening

EyeContactDX enters a competitive but promising field. The push for objective ASD diagnostics has gained significant momentum, validated by the FDA clearance of the EarliPoint System in 2022—another eye-tracking device shown to aid in diagnosis. Meanwhile, academic research and other startups like SenseToKnow are demonstrating the viability of using AI and mobile devices for remote screening. This broader trend confirms that the scientific and clinical communities are ready to move beyond the limitations of the past.

Within this landscape, EyeContactDX has carved out a distinct niche by focusing on maximum accessibility and seamless primary care integration. Its hardware-agnostic, tablet-based model is designed for rapid, scalable deployment across large healthcare networks.

With Dr. Weitzman's unparalleled clinical and strategic guidance, EyeContactDX is signaling its readiness to move from validation to widespread implementation. As the company prepares for strategic deployments in key U.S. markets, the partnership represents a critical step toward a future where early, equitable, and objective ASD screening becomes the standard of care for every child.