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Who shaped your career? Think about the people who guided, challenged, and helped you grow into the professional you are today. Do you think that artificial intelligence could have replaced their support? AI is revolutionizing mentorship by offering tailored learning, progress tracking, and administrative support. But AI has its limitations. AI cannot replace human intuition, empathy, and the ability to challenge mentees in a nuanced way. In todays workplace, mentorship has never been more critical and complex. A new generation of employees is looking for new ways to learn and develop, and mentoring is at the top of their list. And they are not afraid to turn to AI for support. A recent Deloitte report revealed that eight out of ten employees believe AI can support their professional growth through tailored learning opportunities. Thats not just a statisticits a clear signal. People are asking for mentorship that leverages the best of both worlds: technology and human connection. They also want it customized to their individual needs. What AI can do for mentorship AI is reimagining how we mentor, with tools like adaptive learning platforms can tailor learning experiences to specific needs, skills, and pace. It can also analyze data for skills gaps, suggest discussion topics, and provide summaries and progress reports. Virtual collaboration software is also making it easier than ever to connect, guide, and support mentees. These tools simplify time-consuming logistical and administrative burdens and free up time for deeper conversations. What AI cant do for mentorship Heres the catch: While AI can streamline mentorship, it cant replicate the trust, empathy, and intuition that define a truly impactful mentoring relationship. People are not cookie-cutter, so having a one-size-fits-all solution rarely works. Only a human mentor can offer intuitive, nuanced guidance. AI cannot inspire and push mentees beyond their comfort zone in the same way a human mentor can. In our book, Financial Times Guide to Mentoring, Peter Brown, PwCs global workforce leader, shared, The use of generative AI in a mentor-mentee relationship is a classic case of where technology can be used to augment but not replace human beings. . . . As brilliant as it is, Al is unable to provide, for example, the emotional connection, empathy, and nuanced adviceall these innate, human qualities cant be replaced by it. What mentors provide that AI never will Meaning and motivation AI is extremely useful in developing mentoring matches based on specific variables, crafting bespoke learning paths, identifying areas for growth, and even personalizing the mentoring experience. It can suggest topics for discussion and ways to start the conversation, as well as summarize those conversations and the key takeaways at the end. It can also recommend relevant resources for further learning. Its a powerful resource, but its the human mentor who interprets those insights, provides context, and motivates mentees to take meaningful action. Personalized and nuanced feedback To maximize impact, mentors should go beyond AI-generated insights by asking powerful, thought-provoking questions that challenge assumptions and encourage self-reflection. AI might give recommendations, but a mentor can contextualize them based on real-world experience, share personal stories, and help mentees see the bigger picture. AI cannot interpret nonverbal cues, but human mentors can, which allows them to adapt their feedback. Human mentors also inspire action by holding mentees accountable, celebrating their progress, and nudging them toward growth in ways that AI simply cannot. Empathy and trust AI can give you scripts of what to say, but it lacks genuine emotional intelligence. If you didnt get a job, had a paper rejected, or lost a major client, its the mentor who will give you a safe space to be vulnerable, process your feelings, and use them to rebuild. Only a human mentor can truly listen and create a space where a mentee feels heard and supported. To build trust, mentors should focus on active listening and acknowledge disappointments without rushing to offer solutions. Instead of saying Youll get the next opportunity, ask, How are you feeling about this? What can you learn from this experience? Moral and ethical guidance While AI might work in a black-and-white world, the rest of us live in a world of gray, filled with uncertainty. AI makes decisions based on the past, while our morals and values are what guide us toward the future. AI processes information based on historical decisions, but cant make value-based judgments in complex scenarios, which is something humans face every day. We need to apply moral judgment to our everyday decisions. As a mentor, dont just offer answers; help your mentee develop their own ethical compass. Ask them, What type of leader do you want to be? or Which option will help you sleep at night? These types of reflections build the critical thinking skills AI cant replicate. It also prepares mentees to be ethically responsible leaders who can make sound decisions during periods of uncertainty. Encouragement beyond comfort zones AI can optimize learning and offer learning paths, but on the days you are tired, have a fight with your significant other, or are stuck in traffic, its the human mentor who can offer encouragement, nudges, challenges, and stretch assignments. When a mentee is stuckeither due to frustration, exhaustion, or self-doubtthe human mentor is the voice in their head that reminds them why they started. If you notice that your mentee is having an off day, ask Whats one small thing you can do today so that you feel a sense of accomplishment? or When you look back at this moment, what do you want to see? An appropriate challenge or stretch assignment, wrapped in encouragement by a mentor, can rekindle a mentees motivation in a way that AI cant. At its core, mentorship is about relationships, not reports and data points. Trust, listening, and genuine curiosity are what make a mentoring partnership successful. AI can enhance what we o and save us time, but its how we ultimately show up as mentorsfully present, thoughtful, and investedthatll leave a lasting impact. AI is reimagining mentorship by expanding whats possible, but it wont replace the essence of what makes mentoring work: the human connection. As mentors, we have the opportunity to use these tools to amplify our impact and save us time, while doubling down on the skills that only humans bring to the tabletrust, empathy, and presence.
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E-Commerce
Around the world, farmers are retooling their land to harvest the hottest new commodity: sunlight. As the price of renewable energy technology has plummeted and water has gotten more scarce, growers are fallowing acreage and installing solar panels. Some are even growing crops beneath them, which is great for plants stressed by too many rays. Still others are letting that shaded land go wild, providing habitat for pollinators and fodder for grazing livestock. According to a new study, this practice of agrisolar has been quite lucrative for farmers in Californias Central Valley over the last 25 yearsand for the environment. Researchers looked at producers who had idled land and installed solar, using the electricity to run equipment like water pumps and selling the excess power to utilities. On average, that energy savings and revenue added up to $124,000 per hectare (about 2.5 acres) each year, 25 times the value of using the land to grow crops. Collectively, the juice generated in the Central Valley could power around 500,000 households while saving enough water to hydrate 27 million people annually. If a farmer owns 10 acres of land, and they choose to convert 1 or 2 acres to a solar array, that could produce enough income for them to feel security for their whole operation, said Jake Stid, a renewable energy landscape scientist at Michigan State University and lead author of the paper, published in the journal Nature Sustainability. The Central Valley is among the most productive agricultural regions in the world: It makes up just 1% of all farmland acreage in the United States, yet generates a third of the nations fruits and vegetables. But its also extremely water-stressed as California whiplashes between years of significant rainfall and drought. To irrigate all those crops, farmers have drawn so much groundwater that aquifers collapse like empty water bottles, making the earth itself sink by many feet. Farmers cant make their crops less thirsty, so many have been converting some of their acreage to solar. The Central Valley is ideal for this, being mostly flat and very sunny, hence the agricultural productivity. At the same time, farmers have been getting good rates for the electricity that they offset and send back to the grid. A large array of solar panels near crop fields along Highway 41 in Californias Central Valley [Photo: George Rose/Getty Images] Now, though, California has adopted standards that reduce those rates by 75% on average. For a farmer investing in panels, the investment looks less enticing. The algebra or calculusor whatever math discipline you want to referenceit just doesnt work out the same way, said Karen Norene Mills, vice president of legal advocacy at the California Farm Bureau, which promotes the states agricultural community. Also, the study found that by fallowing land for solar panels, food production in the Central Valley dropped by enough calories to feed 86,000 people a year. But, Stid said, markets can adjust, as crops are grown elsewhere to make up the deficit. By tapping the sun instead, Stid added, growers can simultaneously help California reach its goals of deploying renewable and reducing groundwater usage. The tension, though, is meeting those objectives while still producing incredible quantities of food. That is always our concern about some of these pressures, Mills said. But this isnt an either-or proposition: Many farmers are finding ways to grow some crops, like leafy greens and berries, under the panels. The shade reduces evaporation from the soil, allowing growers to water less often. In turn, a wetted landscape cools the panels, which improves their efficiency. This is the compromise thats going to allow for both energy independence and food security, said horticulturalist Jennifer Bousselot, who studies agrisolar at Colorado State University but wasnt involved in the new study. Farmers are also turning livestock loose to graze under their panels. Their droppings fertilize the soil, leading to more plant growth and more flowers that support native pollinators. The grass, its so much more lush under the panels, its amazing, said Ryan Romack, founder of Virginia-based AgriSolar Ranch, which provides grazing services. Especially when the sheep have been on site long-term, you can really see the added benefits of the manure load. Then, if a farmer decides not to replace the solar panels at the end of their lifespanusually around 25 or 30 yearsthe soil will be refreshed with nutrients and ready to grow more crops. Even if a grower simply lets them sit for decades without any management, the fallowing can restore the soils health. We really see solar as a collective landscape, Stid said, that can be sited, managed, and designed in a way to benefit both people and the planet and ecosystems as well. By Matt Simon, Grist This article originally appeared in Grist, a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Sign up for its newsletter here.
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E-Commerce
Over the years, Ive likely wasted thousands of dollars on forgotten subscriptionsand Im not alone. A 2022 survey by research firm C+R found that 42% of Americans had paid for subscriptions theyd forgotten about. Its easy to lose track, especially when payments are scattered across credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and app store accounts. Heres how to track down and cancel those forgotten charges. Subscription management apps: Rocket Money, Hiatus, Trim Dedicated services are among the most effective tools for finding and canceling forgotten subscriptionsand potentially switching to cheaper or free alternatives. But they come with a trade-off: To work, these tools require access to your personal financial data, which can be used for marketing and may compromise your privacy. The more companies that hold your data, the greater your risk in the event of a breach. If thats a concern, dont worrywell explore lower-risk options farther down. I tested three services: Rocket Money, Hiatus, and OneMain Trim. All three can identify old subscriptions for free. Rocket Money and Hiatus also offer to cancel them for youfor a fee. These services connect to your financial accounts using Plaid. While Plaid doesnt share your login credentials, it does access other types of data. In 2022, the company settled a $58 million class-action lawsuit related to its data practices and agreed to limit what it stores and delete certain user dataa process it said was already in progress. Rocket Money identified seven of my nine active subscriptions, including an Apple bundle. It offered to cancel five of themif I subscribed to its pay-what-you-want plan, offering me a range from $6 to $12 per month after a seven-day free trial. The plan also includes budgeting and expense-minimizing tools. Some services, like Apple, require manual cancellation, it said, as Rocket Money cant act on a users behalf in all cases. However, Rocket Moneys privacy policy allows it to use a broad range of personal data for marketing its sister companies, including Rocket Mortgage. The company says it doesnt share financial data like transaction history or account balances with affiliates, but it does share other personal details for advertising purposes. (Rocket does have an opt-out for residents of states that require it: California, Connecticut, Delaware, New Hampshire, Oregon, Texas and Virginia.) Hiatus uncovered five subscriptions, including those from Apple. It could cancel two if I signed up for its Premium plan: I was offered the choice of from $10 to $21 per month (or $48 per year). This plan includes access to other financial tools. The company says it doesnt sell personal data to third parties without consent, but it didnt respond to multiple requests for clarification. Trim, which focuses specifically on subscription tracking, stood out for its clarity and privacy stance. It found all nine subscriptions and had the cleanest, most intuitive interface. While it doesnt cancel subscriptions on your behalf, it provides clear instructions and links to do so. Trims privacy policy states it doesnt share data with third parties, though it does share some information with its parent company, OneMain. Users can opt out of advertising. Despite lacking automated features, Trim offered the best overall balance of accuracy, privacy, and affordability. Manual Methods to Find Subscriptions If youd rather not link your financial accounts, you can manually weed through charges to them. Even if you use a management service, a manual check can catch what it may miss. Listings on mobile devices To find subscriptions on Android devices, go to the Google Play app home screen, tap your avatar at the top right, then tap Payments & Subscriptions > Subscriptions. On iPhones and iPads, go to Settings, click your name, and click Subscriptions. Stored browser logins and password managers Check saved website login data for more clues. In Google Chrome on a computer, click the three-dot menu icon in the upper right, then Passwords and autofill > Google Password Manager. In Apple’s Safari, click Safari > Settings > Passwords. If you use a password manager like 1Password or Dashlane, check them, too. Emails from subscription services You will often get emails from services you subscribe to, such as welcome messages or updates to privacy policies. Search for text like free trial, terms, welcome, privacy policy, your account, or update for clues. How to cancel subscriptions yourself If you’re not using a subscription management app (or if it can’t cancel all accounts for you), try searching the web for something like “cancel subscription new york times” (which worked). Or ask a chatbot. I prompted ChatGPT with: How do I cancel a [name of service] subscription? Provide links to the relevant account pages where possible. It found the right links for Apple, ChatGPT, Evernote, Flickr, Google, Hulu, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, and missed only MIT Technology Review. The step-by-step instructions were right or close to right in most cases. Canceling all your unwanted subscriptions could take half a daybut the savings will likely be worth the time.
Category:
E-Commerce
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