MyMentor Cattolica in the Age of AI: Rethinking Mentoring Between Human Relationships and Artificial Intelligence
On April 15, 2026, at the Piacenza Campus of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, the workshop “MyMentor Cattolica in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” took place as part of the MyMentor 2030 program promoted by UC Career Hub.
The initiative provided an opportunity to reflect on a key question: what role does Artificial Intelligence play in personal and professional development, and specifically in the Mentor–Mentee relationship?
AI and Mentoring: Finding a New Balance
The workshop started with a fundamental question:
Can AI replace mentoring?
Participants’ answers were clear: the human relationship remains central and irreplaceable. At the same time, AI is already widely used by mentees and is mainly perceived as a support tool—an opportunity rather than a substitute.
This highlights a crucial point: the challenge is not choosing between AI and mentoring, but understanding how to integrate them effectively.
Key Insights from the Discussion
Through interactive tools and group discussions, several relevant insights emerged:
- widespread use of AI among all participants
- moderate level of trust in AI-generated responses
- awareness of AI limitations
- strong recognition of the value of the mentor relationship
A particularly interesting finding concerns the tension between value and accessibility: while mentees recognize the importance of mentoring, many tend to prefer tools that are always available, such as AI.
From Tool to Process
The core issue is not technological, but methodological.
AI should not be seen only as a tool for generating quick answers, but as a decision-making co-pilot, capable of supporting:
- preparation before meetings
- formulation of more effective questions
- synthesis of key insights
- definition of actionable plans
In this perspective, mentoring evolves from a single interaction into a structured process, where AI enhances the overall effectiveness of the experience.
The Value of Human Relationships
The second part of the event, Enjoy MyMentor, further reinforced the importance of human relationships.
Through networking and the sharing of real experiences, it became clear that the value of mentoring lies in the transfer of experience, mindset, and responsibility.
Mentors presented concrete examples of collaboration, involving students and PhD candidates in real-world activities—from sustainability projects to the integration of AI within organizational contexts.
Towards Augmented Mentoring
The workshop clearly showed that the future of mentoring lies not in substitution, but in integration.
Artificial Intelligence:
- does not replace human relationships
- does not replace experience
- does not replace responsibility
But it can significantly enhance them.
MyMentor is therefore evolving into a model of augmented mentoring, combining human interaction with digital tools to create a more structured and action-oriented development path.
The true value of mentoring does not lie in the meeting itself, but in the ability to transform that interaction into decisions and actions.
In this context, AI acts as a multiplier of value—provided it is used with awareness and critical thinking.
The MyMentor program continues to evolve, keeping people and relationships at its core, while integrating tools and methodologies that respond to the challenges of a rapidly changing world.