What is uniquely human?

A couple of years ago, during my PhD journey, I had the privilege of taking a class with Thomas Schärtl-Trendel. The class explored the question of what it means to be human, or to put it in fancier words, “Being human - Being a person - Self-consciousness” (Menschsein – Personsein - Selbstbewusstsein). One of the things I learnt was that there wasn’t such a thing as an essential or defining characteristic (Wesensmerkmal) of being human that no other living being had. What was intriguing was to explore the demarcation line (Demarkationslinie) between human and non-human. This very line, and the question of what is uniquely human, comes b ack to me as an adult educator, therapist and coach working with AI. 

Next October, Columbia University will host a coaching conference that raises questions about AI and coaching, one of which is "What is uniquely human about coaching?" This question invites us to redefine what it means to be human in the light of AI; it questions human nature anew.

The call offers food for thought, asking for uniquely human capabilities (aspects that AI cannot yet replicate) and examples of core human attributes, such as empathy. Looking back on what I learned years ago, the question of what is uniquely human might not lead to a consolidating answer, or any answer at all - at least for now. Instead, it might be more promising to learn how to live the question - as Rilke suggests, even if it means living with uncertainty and curiosity (Rilke, R. M. (1929/2018). Letters to a Young Poet. Suhrkamp Verlag).

But what exactly does that mean, and how does it translate into our practice when it comes to coaching?

Coaching at scale

Nicky Terblanche's Coach Vici - as an example - claims to be as effective as human coaches when it comes to to helping you achieve your goals and improve your performance at work, available 24/7 at a moderate cost to your employer. This has implications not only for learning in the workspace, but also in other spheres of our lives, such as dating: Matthew Hussey, a dating coach offers an avatar, an AI version of himself, based on his own lived experience and expertise. For a membership fee, you can ask questions or have the AI analyse the photos you are about to upload to your dating profile.

AI is excellent at pattern recognition, which is at the core of coaching, and it doesn't come with the lived experience of a single human being (because AI has been trained on AI has been trained by millions of humans’ experiences). As coaches - and as adult educators and learners in general - we perceive, understand, interpret and make sense of what we hear in terms of our lived experience. It takes braveness and vulnerability to share your highest hopes and deepest fears with a coach. It is not surprising that one might turn to ChatGPT and seek answers in the anonymity of the internet - or rather the perception of anonymity. In terms of the huge privacy issues that have yet to be resolved, we may be deluding ourselves, as there is no such thing as anonymity on the internet. The advantages however are obvious: Coaching becomes more accessible to a broader audience.

But there is a darker side to this non-human form of coaching. Esther Perel, relationship and sex therapist, points to the other AI - artificial intimacy - "all the experiences that we currently have that are pseudo experiences. They should give us the feeling of something real, but they don't." Perel talks about the need for connection and community, and "for transcending the burdens of the self that have never been heavier, for having freedom that is unprecedented, but also living with the tyranny of doubt and uncertainty that is unprecedented." In this case, the rise of AI in coaching may, at least to some extent, be contributing to what makes us seek support in the first place when it comes to modern loneliness. The challenge of being vulnerable in the company of others, like a coach, meets the need and longing for connection. In that case, the lived experience of others can be one of the greatest assets as a source of empathy and a sense of belonging.

Living the question

One of the questions that remain unanswered, and that we might have to live with, is whether or not AI will be, or in part already is, a better coach. Or, in a Rortyan sense (Rorty, R. (1989). Contingency, irony, and solidarity. Cambridge University Press), we could ask another question, one raised by the colleagues organising the coaching conference, about how AI and human coaching can be effectively combined. What would this potential hybrid future look like? Rather than competing, AI and human coaching could complement each other. 

One way to envision and create this partnership could be AI supporting the coaching relationship by providing data-driven insights on patterns and aspects the human coach might miss, offering evidence-based intervention suggestions, handling administrative tasks such as scheduling and follow-up reminders, or providing support between sessions.

Meanwhile, the human coach could focus more on an embodied presence, intuitive sensing of non-verbal communication, contextual understanding based on lived experience, and being present with uncomfortable emotions that might be part of the coaching session.

If we live these questions, perhaps one day we'll live the answers as well, if Rilke is right, and perhaps we'll discover that the answer doesn't come from competing with machines, but from embracing our humanity more deeply.