Are You EducAIting?

By Josep Maria Español Guionnet, Executive Manager at SDG Group USA.

It all started when I came across an MIT study linking the use of LLM models to a decrease in neural activity when students were tasked with writing an essay. There are also studies suggesting the opposite, but what seems undeniable is that AI assistants will change how we learn and work.

So, how will assistants impact environments where one of the main sources of learning for junior members is through human interactions and the mentor/coach experience?

If someone started their career with an AI assistant instead of a mentor, I would see two risks:

1. Missing chances to hone the skills needed for a professional setting
2. Development of poor AI habits that do not translate into real-life situations

The first runs deep and can be potentially critical. I’ve always believed in the Star Wars Jedi-style mentorship model: master and apprentice. Generation to generation, improving with each iteration, enriched by each person's touch.

It’s one of the best ways for an individual to learn career-shaping lessons; and for the company, to carry values and knowledge forward, building strong, lasting teams.

For the second point, I would ask anyone who’s spent time with ChatGPT: Is it really that easy to get the right result just by asking?

Depending on the topic, and to ask the right question and validate the answer, you need context and iteration, knowledge and experience. So, getting used to “I’ll just ask the assistant” can slow people’s problem-solving skill development, while not even ensuring the time that was used trying to get the right answer was fruitful.

Now, let’s think about it, managers are busy and at times coaching may not be a priority. Add to that the accessibility of AI assistants. You might get time with a mentor once a week. Copilot-style AI? Every minute. So learning - good or bad - happens fast.

What if juniors start turning to AI to replace that interaction, or to fill the gap if no mentor is available?

Yes, some might argue that coaching is one of the roles AI can play. But, just like experience and maturity help in asking better questions and interpreting answers more effectively, leveraging AI as coach with or without the right approach will make a difference.

So, what should we do? Are we willing to take the risk?

As leaders, we shouldn’t aim to replace or be replaced by AI assistants. Instead, we should:

• Create safe spaces for collaboration between all profiles, including AI assistants
• Prioritize mentorship and coaching to help juniors build the right mindset for their growth while getting the most out of AI

Now, look at your team: Are you educAIting?