In the vast galaxy of the Star Wars movie saga, young Luke Skywalker embarks on a transformative quest. He had a calling. He crossed the threshold from an ordinary life to the extraordinary. And he was guided by the legendary Jedi Master and mentor, Yoda.
Amidst Dagobah’s misty swamps, Luke’s true journey begins. It is not one of exploring a physical world in the infinity of external space but it is a journey inward to the infinity of our internal imagination.
At first uncertain and impatient, Luke struggles to believe in himself. But Yoda, ever wise and patient, unlocks Luke’s hidden potential.
Yoda’s powerful lessons—“Do or do not. There is no try”—ignite courage in Luke’s heart. Through wisdom, patience, and compassion, Yoda empowers Luke to confront his deepest fears, embrace humility, and ultimately redeem his father, restoring hope to the galaxy.
This is a profound reminder that great mentors can illuminate the path ahead, inspiring us to discover our own greatness within.
Why it matters
The quest to succeed at business and life is often complicated and information is everywhere but sometimes it seems that wisdom is nowhere. Finding a life guide to assist us in our search for success is often fraught.
Finding a mentor is often an accident. Some of us are lucky enough to be born to a mother or father that are our “Yoda’s”. But sometimes they don’t have what we need to expand our universe. To help us find our truth.
Sometimes we feel like we are wandering in the wilderness looking for a wise grownup to show up to guide us to our inner destiny. Parents can love us but they may not have the skills to coach us. Most of us are looking for a saviour to save us. Provide the answers. Give us a template for success.
Some of us even go looking for the answers to life in our romantic partners. We are looking for fulfillment on the outside when it sits quietly waiting on the inside waiting to be heard.
I can often go looking and seeking for a mentor in the distilled knowledge and experience of books that reveal the wisdom of a life lived and a passion unearthed.
And finding a mentor that matters can often be the difference between success or failure. But a mentor that changes your life is often not a singularity but a multiplicity of oracles.
What is a mentor?
The word “mentor” refers to a trusted advisor or experienced guide who provides wisdom, advice, support, and guidance to someone less experienced, helping them grow personally and professionally.
Origin of the word “Mentor”
The term originates from ancient Greek mythology, specifically from Homer’s epic poem, “The Odyssey.” “Mentor” was a character in The Odyssey, a friend and advisor whom Odysseus entrusted with guiding and protecting his son, Telemachus, while he was away at war. The goddess Athena even disguised herself as Mentor to advise Telemachus, highlighting the role as a wise counselor.
Because of this original portrayal as a wise and trusted advisor, the name “Mentor” gradually became synonymous with the role of someone who provides guidance, insight, and support.
By the numbers
The global mentoring industry is projected to reach approximately $20 billion by the end of 2024, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 6.7% from 2020.
But there is a technology shift that is changing the game. AI mentors and AI career coaching platforms.
The online coaching platforms market is currently projected to reach approximately $12 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 24% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2033.
Going deeper
Mentoring is often touted as a big business opportunity for many thought leaders and coaches who have spent decades learning their craft in a niche. But it has one big problem. It doesn’t scale well.
It’s normally a “one on one” gig and you are trading your time for money. You have one session and you get paid once. You can scale your advice by running group sessions but then it isn’t a one on one experience that is individualized.
But there is a technology solution to the problem.
Mentoring using AI.
Why an AI mentor?
AI can help us scale wisdom, time and advice. Chatbots powered by Ai and large language models have access to the world’s published information and wisdom that has been shared online. The web has provided free access to this treasure trove of the published consciousness of humanity’s consciousness. We could call it superconsciousness enabled by technology.
It is a global mind meld ready to be prodded, prompted and searched.
That is why a mentoring or coaching AI companion app can help many more people than the “face to face” human method because it can amplify the coach’s expertise and wisdom.
What if you could amplify yourself as a business mentor or personal life coach with 1,000 or 1 million+ coaching sessions all happening at the same time?
This is what your digital twin or an interactive AI avatar could provide coaching while you sleep. Wisdom, experience and expertise of humanity shared at the speed of AI.
What AI mentors can do
The tension between man and machine is now out in the open. As humans we need to rest and take a nap occasionally.
AI mentors have some advantages including 24/7 uptime, perfect memories, scalability, customized information, no judgement bias or ego and access to global data to find wisdom and intelligence in the data noise
- 24/7 availability – AI mentors never sleep. They’re always ready for brainstorming, analysis, or coaching — any timezone, any moment.
- Instant data crunching – AI can analyze industry trends, market data, SWOTs, and financials in seconds — tasks that would take humans hours.
- Scalability and consistency – AI mentors can help millions at once without burnout. Human attention is finite and expensive.
- No bias or ego – AI doesn’t feel threatened, doesn’t compete, and doesn’t have a personal agenda (though it can reflect design bias). And It gives feedback without fear of awkwardness or judgment.
- Custom learning paths at scale – AI can generate tailored plans for every individual’s pace, goal, and learning style — in real time.
What AI mentors can’t do
Inside all of us sits our bliss. It is a calling or vocation that is our own combination of unique talents and purpose. Finding the code to unlock that door can be the work of a lifetime. It is not a science but intuition.
It can show up early or it sometimes takes decades to discover. You might know what it is at 5 years old like Mozart but I found mine at 50.
At Steven Spielberg’s 2016 Harvard Commencement speech he included a metaphor about a “whisper” to represent intuition. He described intuition as a subtle voice that whispers “here’s what you could do,” contrasting it with conscience which shouts “here’s what you should do”.
He encouraged graduates to listen to that inner “whisper” of their intuition.
His experience and wisdom was this:
“What you should be doing for the rest of your life will reveal itself as a whisper, it never shouts.”
So while AI mentors offer incredible support—personalized feedback, goal tracking, 24/7 availability—they have fundamental limitations when it comes to the deepest, most human aspects of growth and purpose.
Here’s a quick summary of where they fall short:
They can’t truly understand your soul’s calling
AI can analyze your strengths, interests, and market trends—but it can’t intuit your bliss, your dharma, or the quiet pull toward what makes your life deeply meaningful. That inner whisper? Only you (or perhaps a deeply empathetic human guide) can hear it.
They don’t feel what you feel
AI doesn’t experience fear, doubt, heartbreak, or joy. It can simulate empathy, but it doesn’t live emotion. True mentors draw from the depth of lived experience—they’ve failed, risen, and found purpose through the messy beauty of life.
They can’t walk beside you
AI offers direction, but not companionship. A great human mentor doesn’t just guide—they walk with you through uncertainty, celebrate your breakthroughs, and hold space for your growth in a way no algorithm can.
They can’t challenge you from love
AI may nudge you with reminders or feedback, but it won’t call you out with love or belief in your higher self. Human mentors challenge you because they care—and they often see something in you that you haven’t yet recognized.
They don’t evolve with you in soulful ways
AI models are trained on data, not human evolution. A true mentor grows with you, sensing shifts in your emotional, spiritual, and creative life that don’t show up in metrics.
AI mentors are powerful tools—but not sacred guides. They may feel like an oracle but they are just your assistant. They can assist but they can’t replace.
They can support your journey, but not define it. When it comes to discovering your true calling—your bliss, your essence, your reason for being – you must do the deep listening.
Sometimes, with a human mentor who sees the flame inside you before you see it yourself.
Ethical considerations and challenges for AI mentors
In a recent article I wrote about AI companions that I shared on LinkedIn had more than 209 comments and over 390,000+ impressions.
These comments were often 2-3 paragraphs long. They weren’t glib short statements but comments about not only opportunity but also frustration and even fear. This displayed the touching of the raw nerve of humanity versus the machine. The intersection of AI and humanity is asking big raw questions such as what does it mean to be human? That is a big question and maybe the best answer is “The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind” – Bob Dylan
Some of these comments were also about data privacy and an unhealthy addiction and over-reliance on AI. So on that theme of maintaining a positive relationship between humanity and the machine and “Keeping the AI bastards honest” here is a pledge to consider and ponder:
The ethical AI pledge
So in the interest of the flourishing of humanity we should implement the following.
- Empower humans but be guided by ethics. – At [Your Company Name], we believe AI should amplify human potential — not replace it. Our commitment is to responsible, transparent, and trustworthy AI mentoring.
- Put people first – Our AI mentors are designed to support your growth, not to manipulate or mislead. You remain in control of your journey.
- Be honest and transparent – You’ll always know when you’re speaking to an AI. We disclose how our AI works, what data it uses, and where its limits are.
- Respect data privacy – Your personal and business information belongs to you. We protect it with strong security, never sell it, and let you delete it anytime.
- Fight bias and promote fairness – We work to detect and reduce bias in our AI to ensure everyone receives fair, respectful, and inclusive guidance.
- Keep humans in the loop – Our AI will never make critical decisions for you. For complex or sensitive situations, human oversight is always available.
Why is an ethical pledge important for AI?
When social media started to become mainstream we were excited but it had a dark side that hadn’t been revealed (yet). It was a huge global and social experiment. It gave us all visibility and the means to reach the world as we all became global communicators, commentators and creators.
But then the profit takers and dysfunctional capitalists that prioritized greed over common good took control. The mantra was to make money at all costs. And humanity be dammed.
We also know that history doesn’t repeat itself but it does rhyme.
So…we need to make sure that we don’t repeat the mistakes of the last 20 years where the social media platforms took away our privacy, created polarization, promoted hate and drama with their revenue optimized algorithms and have maybe even destroyed democracy. That is yet to be fully revealed but it is not looking good.
So back to the positives. Let’s look at the success of people who had human mentors.
5 famous people who had mentors
Many of these famous people didn’t seek wisdom but it showed up anyway. That is called Serendipity. They learned from action coupled with attraction.
Here are five powerful examples of how mentoring and coaching profoundly shaped the lives of famous figures, influencing their work and changing the world across art and business:
1. Steve Jobs and Bill Campbell (Business and innovation)
Bill Campbell, known as the “Coach of Silicon Valley,” provided Steve Jobs with crucial emotional and leadership guidance. His mentorship influenced Jobs’ management style, enabling Apple to become one of the world’s most innovative companies. Jobs credited Campbell with helping him navigate complex decisions and tough business challenges.
Impact: Apple’s revolutionary products reshaped consumer technology worldwide.
2. Oprah Winfrey and Maya Angelou (Media and personal growth)
Oprah credits the legendary poet and author Maya Angelou as a mentor who profoundly impacted her approach to life and career. Angelou encouraged Oprah to embrace authenticity, wisdom, and courage, deeply influencing her media empire and philanthropic work.
Impact: Oprah became a transformative cultural figure, shaping conversations around vulnerability, personal growth, and social justice.
3. Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs (Technology and entrepreneurship)
Steve Jobs acted as a pivotal mentor to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Jobs advised Zuckerberg on building strong teams, maintaining clear product vision, and developing sustainable leadership strategies.
Impact: Facebook transformed global communication, connecting billions worldwide and influencing social media’s evolution.
4. Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat (Art and creativity)
In the 1980s, iconic pop artist Andy Warhol mentored young artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Warhol’s mentorship provided Basquiat with validation, creative guidance, and crucial introductions in the art world.
Impact: Basquiat became one of the most influential artists of his generation, reshaping contemporary art with his provocative style and social commentary.
5. Warren Buffett and Benjamin Graham (Finance and investment)
Warren Buffett credits economist Benjamin Graham, author of “The Intelligent Investor,” as his most influential mentor. Graham’s principles on value investing guided Buffett’s investment philosophy and long-term strategies.
Impact: Buffett’s disciplined investment approach led to extraordinary success, profoundly influencing global financial markets and investment philosophy.
5 popular AI mentorship companion (coaching) apps
AI business mentors are going global. The wisdom within one human mentor has now been amplified by many.
Why settle for one slice of wisdom when you can have the matrix of many.
Here are 5 mentorship apps worth checking out.
BetterUp.com
This is what they say they are “about”:
Since 2013 we have been pioneering transformation and peak performance in individuals, teams, and organizations. As the inventor of virtual coaching and the largest mental health and coaching startup in the world, we build and strengthen the mindsets, skills, and behaviors that help people achieve their full potential – in work, life, and all that they do.
BetterUp is the first Human Transformation Platform that scales whole-person behavior change, integrating into your flow of work to boost organizational performance and measurably impact key business outcomes. With behavioral science, analytics at scale, and evidence-based coaching to affect growth, we bring human transformation to organizations and self-actualization to people worldwide.
So, in a nutshell.
- They offer an AI-powered coaching platform providing personalized development plans and real-time support.
- Combine AI with human coaches to enhance employee growth and well-being.
Rocky.ai
Mentorship or coaching can sit in a few buckets. One can be for individuals, leaders or even coaches as they try to bring out the best in others.
To be brief it provides:
- AI-driven personal development and leadership coaching.
- Features include daily mindset coaching, goal tracking, and personalized development plans.
CoachBot.ai
CoachBot is an AI coaching assistant designed by certified professional coaches to guide you on your personal growth journey. Available 24/7 through your browser or WhatsApp, CoachBot helps you set and reach goals—big or small. By asking thought-provoking questions, CoachBot offers a personalized approach to help you focus on what truly matters, empowering you to succeed in your challenges.
A snapshot
- Offers scalable personal growth through AI and human coaching integration.
- Designed to deepen personal development with each session.
Bunch.ai
In their words: We’re powering the leaders of tomorrow. We’re a startup on a mission to help every manager become a great leader. By using data and psychology to curate advice from a bunch of their peers, we enable managers and aspiring leaders to learn and grow in 2-minutes a day. Our AI leadership coach is available on the App Store & Play Store!
In brevity they:
- Deliver daily leadership tips and insights in just 2 minutes.
- Aimsto make leadership development accessible and efficient.
Mindforest
MindForest is a Psychology and AI Coaching App. It helps you thrive with AI-powered psychology and offers a transformative journey combining the expertise of psychology with the innovation of AI.
To be short:
- Mindforest combines psychological expertise with AI to offer tailored coaching.
- Features include psychometric assessments and an Insight Journal for personal growth.
By integrating AI into coaching, individuals can access deeper insights and support in their journey toward meaningful and fulfilling careers. As the technology evolves, it holds the promise of making purpose-driven work more accessible to all.
Final thoughts
Great mentors can change your life. Find the wrong one and they will add little or even lead to disillusionment. Some posture as wise guides but they don’t have the life or business experience you need to flourish. Many of us get on the treadmill of climbing the corporate ladder or start a business and find that we are up against the wrong wall.
AI mentors and coaches need to be looked at as assistants and not oracles. They can be useful guides to provide suggestions and ideas to consider. They are not truth and they are not omniscient.
Finding answers to your challenges is found in many places. At the end of the day it is about listening to the whisper that never shouts and then acting on that intuition.
Mentors are just guides and not gods.