Can AI Replace Mentoring Programs?

"AI can handle routine tasks, but it's people who bring the depth of experience, judgment, and the ability to adapt to unpredictable situations that are vital for businesses and society." - Andrew Ng, co-founder of Google Brain and AI educator.

Before I start, I want to say this blog was not written by AI. A proud human rolled up his sleeves, punched the keys, and did the work.

AI is THE BUZZWORD of 2023. Many have heralded AI as the future of the workforce, claiming it will replace software engineers, graphic artists, writers, and numerous other professions in the near future. Some are scared of AI and talk about the subject as if some dystopian science fiction is on the horizon.

In my opinion... the truth is somewhere in between. I don't believe AI will radically wipe out the job market, nor do I think AI is about to sprout up like the Terminator and kill us all. AI does have a place in the workplace. It's a great tool to automate work and routine tasks. If you have data-type questions, AI can find the information rapidly.

But if you were feeling depressed or hopeless about a situation at work, would you turn to an AI for moral support? If a co-worker was furious with you, would an AI help resolve the upset? What if a team needed to be supervised and pushed to make difficult deadlines? Is an AI going to show you how to do that?

Would an AI help employees feel connected to their company's mission? I would argue that an AI might do the opposite. I know that if I only interacted with a machine, no matter how intelligent or witty, it would dehumanize the workplace.

There is something intangible and irreplaceable about the human element. Go too long without contact with another human being, and you probably will start to feel depressed.

Mentorship has been a practice to enhance humans since the beginning of knowledge and language. Learning from another who has already walked the professional path you are on is a time-tested way to take massive strides. Classrooms and books are useful. But they aren't the same as having a mentor directly hand out pearls of wisdom.

Here are three ways AI will never be able to replace a human mentor:

One – Human Connections

"The essence of humanity is our ability to connect with one another emotionally. AI can't replicate the richness of those connections." - Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft.

The biggest draw of a mentoring program is that it builds human connections. Even in large corporations, employees often feel isolated. According to a recent survey, it is estimated that the U.S. economy lost more than $400 billion in productivity last year due to workers feeling socially isolated. When employees are isolated, they are more likely to experience burnout, and productivity suffers.

When employees are paired up with a mentor, they are given a sounding board. Employees can't always talk to their co-workers or managers about what they are struggling with personally and/or professionally. It's often inappropriate and uncomfortable for employees to bring this stuff up. A mentor can play a unique role and act as a sounding board while also giving guidance on how to handle various professional situations.

The human connection is what sees people through hardship in life. AI and technology can ease the burden of menial tasks, but it's never going to be able to replace human connection.

Two – AI Doesn't Observe, It Responds

If you want an AI, like ChatGPT, to do something, you have to ask it first. An AI can't observe an employee in the workplace and make an accurate assessment of performance. In order for an AI to provide any sort of feedback, an employee would have to input a specific question.

There are obvious flaws in this as a mentoring or learning system. First of all, the employee may be asking the wrong question and be totally blind to areas where he needs improvement. Self-evaluation is often faulty, which is part of why a mentor is so valuable. They can tell you what's wrong. A mentor can provide crucial work-based performance reviews that also include action steps to improve weak spots.

Effective mentoring requires mentors to observe, evaluate, and offer the correct advice. An AI mostly answers questions and is reactionary.

Three – AI Can't Teach Soft Skills

Soft skills can be the most difficult thing for mentees to learn. Reading all the communication books in the world can never replace getting in front of people and talking to them.

Many billionaires, such as Mark Cuban, started selling door-to-door at an early age. In the beginning, I bet there were ten doors slammed in his face for every sale. But through trial and error and boatloads of practice, sales skills can be mastered. Sales are just one facet of soft skills. Soft skills also encompass PR work, running a team, gaining cooperation, negotiation, and conflict resolution.

An AI has no awareness of emotion. It doesn't have empathy. How is it supposed to teach soft skills using text-based answers? It can't. But a mentor can.

A mentor can walk you through the ins and outs of soft skills. They can teach you how to present yourself, how to listen, and when to interject and negotiate.

And just for fun, I asked ChatGPT the question: Can you replace my human mentor?

Here's the answer I got: "I can provide information and guidance, but I cannot fully replace a human mentor. Human mentors offer personalized advice, share their experiences, and provide emotional support based on your unique circumstances, which AI cannot replicate. It's advisable to maintain a mentorship relationship while using AI tools like me for supplementary assistance."

Wisdom Share Mentoring Software

Our powerful software seamlessly integrates mentoring into any organization. It can be tailored to handle any unique challenge. It offers a range of key features and benefits designed to drive measurable results. 

1. Customizable Matching Algorithms: Wisdom Share employs cutting-edge matching algorithms that efficiently pair mentors and mentees based on shared goals, interests, and expertise. This ensures optimal mentor-mentee matches, facilitating productive and impactful relationships right from the start. 
   
   
2. Seamless Communication and Collaboration: Our software provides user-friendly communication tools, including chat, video conferencing, and virtual meeting spaces, enabling mentees and mentors to connect and collaborate effortlessly. This seamless communication fosters a sense of belonging and support, facilitating valuable knowledge transfer and growth. 
   
   
3. Goal Tracking and Progress Measurement: With Wisdom Share, mentees can set clear objectives, track their progress, and receive feedback from their mentors. This feature enhances accountability, motivates mentees to strive for their goals, and enables mentors to provide valuable guidance and support along the way. 
   
   
4. Resource Library and Knowledge Sharing: Our software offers a comprehensive resource library, housing a vast array of valuable materials, articles, and best practices. Mentees can access this centralized repository to expand their knowledge, gain insights, and continuously develop their skills, promoting ongoing learning and growth. 
   
   
5. Data-driven Insights and Analytics: Wisdom Share provides data-driven insights and analytics that offer a deep understanding of mentoring relationships, program effectiveness, and the impact on key metrics. These actionable insights empower organizations to make informed decisions, optimize their mentoring programs, and measure the tangible benefits they bring to employee engagement, retention, and overall company performance. 

Mentor Resources can help any company or government agency to leverage technology to create tailored career development programs that are cost-effective. Our mentoring software - Wisdom Share is a cloud-based program that is simple and comes with guided workflows. Included are tools for administrators to attract, enroll, connect, and guide participants. We also provide analytics to ensure you can monitor your employee development program and easily see ROI metrics.

Reach out to us today for a Free Demonstration of our software.