Mentoring and GenAI: A new boost for Mentorship

As the pace of technological change accelerates, mentorship is evolving – but how can AI truly enhance, rather than replace, human guidance?

The introduction of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is rapidly transforming the mentorship landscape. Far from replacing human interactions, it offers mentors powerful tools to enhance their guidance and better address their mentees' needs. By integrating GenAI, the mentoring relationship evolves towards greater personalization, responsiveness, and effectiveness, thereby strengthening professional support.

Rethinking the Mentor’s role in the Age of AI

Mentorship traditionally depends on regular human interactions and the mentor’s experience to guide mentees. Yet, time constraints and limited resources can restrict a mentor's impact. GenAI steps in as a critical ally, helping mentors overcome these limitations through targeted advice, tailored tools, and resources suited to the specific needs of mentees.

A recent study, Framework for Integrating Generative AI in Developing Competencies for Accounting and Audit Professionals (Anica-Popa et al., 2024), demonstrates how GenAI can structure developmental pathways by precisely identifying the skills to be developed. Thus, the mentor not only serves as a conduit of human experience but also as a facilitator in adapting to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. This evolving mission of mentorship is no longer just about sharing human experience – it’s also about enabling mentees to adapt to a world increasingly influenced by AI and other emerging technologies.

Toward more personalized Mentorship through GenAI

One of the most remarkable benefits of GenAI is its ability to quickly analyze complex data and provide personalized recommendations. For each mentee, AI offers contextualized suggestions, whether in the form of reflective exercises or scenarios tailored to specific challenges they face. This level of personalization allows mentors to optimize their guidance and more accurately address individual needs.

According to internal data from several corporate mentoring programs, integrating GenAI into the process could improve the customization of advice by up to 30%. This translates into more precise interventions tailored to the unique needs of mentees and based on tangible data.

In (1) Mentoring Beyond AI: Forging Pioneers for the Dawning Era of Artificial Intelligence, the Metaverse, and Space, the authors stress the importance of preparing the next generation to face the challenges of these emerging technologies. While AI relies on quantitative data, mentorship also involves qualitative elements, such as personal observations, deep conversations, and an understanding of mentees' emotions—elements that GenAI cannot yet fully replace.

Improving efficiency with automated resource searches

A major challenge for mentors is quickly finding quality resources to support their mentees’ developmental needs. Traditionally, this search takes time, but with GenAI, mentors can now instantly access relevant case studies, articles, or educational tools. Whether the topic is creativity, stress management, or business strategy, AI can recommend pertinent resources within seconds.

This allows mentors to dedicate more time to direct support while offering high-quality content. The article From Users to Allies: Exploring Educator and Generative AI Roles in Shaping the Future of Higher Education (Ravarini et al., 2024) highlights GenAI’s ability to enrich educational interactions by providing high-value, contextualized information.

Preparing mentees for real-life situations through simulations

Beyond resources, GenAI can also be used to prepare for real-life professional scenarios. By generating simulations of negotiations, conflict resolutions, or delicate discussions, it helps mentors guide mentees through various scenarios. These exercises allow mentees to test different approaches, explore their own reactions, and develop a deeper understanding of the professional dynamics they are likely to encounter.

This use of GenAI in scenario preparation is emphasized by Generative AI in Education: Technical Foundations, Applications, and Challenges (Rashid et al., 2024), which shows how AI can stimulate critical thinking in mentees by helping them effectively prepare for complex situations.

Risks and challenges of using GenAI in mentorship

While GenAI offers substantial advantages, it is essential that mentors maintain a balance between technology use and the human relationship. Mentorship is primarily based on empathy, active listening, and understanding the emotional and professional needs of the mentee.

It is crucial to address potential risks associated with its adoption. One major risk is excessive reliance on AI, which could reduce the authenticity of interactions and the mentor’s ability to intuitively respond to the mentee’s emotional needs. GenAI should be used to enrich the relationship, not replace it. As highlighted in Blended Learning and AI: Enhancing Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (Wong, 2024), a balanced approach between AI and human interaction ensures that the mentoring relationship remains authentic while benefiting from technological advances.

Recommendations for integrating GenAI into mentoring practice

1. Transparency and Ethics: Before integrating AI, mentors should explain to mentees how it will be used and how it enhances the mentoring process, ensuring confidentiality and ethical data use.
2. Use AI to Enhance, Not Replace: AI should be seen as a tool for deepening guidance and offering new perspectives, while the mentor’s experience and intuition remain essential in every interaction.
3. Preserve Authenticity in Interactions: Mentors should ensure that interactions remain human-centered, promoting active listening and addressing the mentee’s emotional and personal needs.

Long-term perspectives: The transformation of mentorship

The introduction of GenAI into mentorship has a lasting impact on mentees' development. Interactions become more dynamic, guidance more targeted, and professional growth more clearly defined. Personalized recommendations, progress tracking, and the ability to offer tailored solutions allow mentees to develop their skills faster and more autonomously.

As highlighted in Mentoring Beyond AI, mentors must prepare the next generation to navigate an increasingly complex world where artificial intelligence, the metaverse, and other technologies will play a key role.

Conclusion: how GenAI can boost modern mentorship

GenAI is much more than a mere support tool. It represents a new way of thinking about mentorship by enhancing mentors’ ability to personalize their advice and support their mentees’ development. When used thoughtfully and ethically, it enhances mentors’ ability to tailor their guidance and lead mentees towards greater professional success. By enriching exchanges, GenAI opens new perspectives, creating a mentorship model that is more responsive, relevant, and value-driven. As demonstrated in Mentoring Beyond AI, GenAI is only the beginning: mentorship must evolve to incorporate not only AI but also disruptive technologies that will redefine how we work and interact.

By integrating GenAI into their mentorship strategies thoughtfully, mentors can help their mentees reach new heights in their personal and professional growth, preparing them to lead in a world of innovative technological progress.

(1) Mentoring Beyond AI: Forging Pioneers for the Dawning Era of Artificial Intelligence, the Metaverse, and Space Paperback – March 31, 2024 by Jerry F Miller, Anitha Kurup, S S Iyengar.

Authors : Olga AUZILLAUD Florent Lafarge Esteban Martinez-Querol