I am currently reading Pascal Bornet’s Irreplaceable: The Art of Standing Out in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. In this book, Bornet introduces a concept he calls Humics: a set of uniquely human abilities that AI cannot authentically replicate: genuine creativity, critical thinking, and social authenticity.
Notice my wording here, I said authentically replicate. Technically, AI can simulate these abilities, but not in a truly human way. As Bornet reminds us,
“These capabilities are rooted in core human aspects that technology cannot genuinely possess: our individual life experiences, our human emotions, and our personalities.” (p. 67)
Let’s look briefly at each of these abilities:
1. Genuine Creativity
Bornet uses the example of a painter: “Imagine a painter creating a masterpiece. The painting isn’t just a mix of colors and strokes; it’s a reflection of the painter’s emotions, experiences, and personal touch.” Creativity is deeply personal. While AI can remix patterns and produce impressive outputs, it cannot feel, imagine, or pour lived experience into what it creates.
Genuine creativity is the ability to generate new and original ideas, solutions, or artistic expressions. While AI can mimic patterns and generate novel combinations based on existing data, it lacks the intrinsic human spark of genuine creativity. This is the ability to draw on personal experiences, emotions, and the subconscious, to create something truly groundbreaking or emotionally resonant. AI’s creations, though impressive, are ultimately rooted in the data it has been fed, lacking the depth and unpredictability of human creativity. (p. 68) Kindle Edition.
Genuine Creativity Competencies
- Idea Generation: Ability to produce original concepts, designs, or solutions that go beyond existing patterns.
- Emotional Expression: Integrate emotions, intuition, and lived experiences into creative work.
- Innovative Risk-Taking: Willingness to experiment, take risks, and push boundaries.
- Meaning-Making: Create work that resonates deeply and evokes emotional or intellectual impact.
2. Critical Thinking
Ask AI to evaluate an argument, and it will return a structured, logical response. But the essence of critical thinking is much deeper, it requires independent judgment, ethical reflection, and the willingness to question assumptions. AI can process information but cannot take moral responsibility for its conclusions.
Critical thinking is the ability to analyze and evaluate information by applying independent judgment and ethical reasoning. It involves critiquing the validity of information, using intuition to make decisions, and engaging in self‐reflection to understand one’s biases, purpose, and underlying motivations. AI can process and analyze information at incredible speeds, but it falls short in applying ethical reasoning, intuition, and independent judgment. These critical thinking facets require an understanding of context, the subtleties of human values, and the ability to foresee consequences beyond raw data analysis. AI lacks self‐awareness and cannot self‐reflect or understand biases in the way humans can, making it unable to truly master critical thinking. (p. 68). Kindle Edition.
Critical Thinking Competencies
- Analytical Reasoning: Evaluate information for accuracy, reliability, and relevance.
- Ethical Judgment: Apply moral reasoning and anticipate the consequences of decisions.
- Bias Awareness: Recognize personal and systemic biases and reflect on how they shape thinking.
- Contextual Understanding: Interpret information within cultural, social, and situational contexts.
- Independent Decision-Making: Make choices based on evidence, intuition, and values rather than blind acceptance of data.
3. Social Authenticity
This is perhaps the most human of all. Social authenticity is about forming genuine, empathetic relationships and building trust. Machines are far from achieving this. We’ve already seen the troubling implications when people develop parasocial attachments to chatbots leading in some cases to isolation, mental health challenges, and even harm.
For example, a recent case in the New York Times described a teenager who reportedly took their life after an intense emotional attachment to an AI chatbot.
Social authenticity is central to engaging harmoniously with people. It encompasses the ability to understand and manage emotions, communicate effectively, empathize, and exercise leadership to guide and positively influence people. AI can simulate social interactions and even mimic empathetic responses, but it cannot genuinely understand or feel human emotions. The depth of human connection, built on shared experiences and genuine empathy, remains beyond AI’s reach. Social authenticity requires an understanding of complex social cues and emotional subtleties that AI, lacking real emotions and consciousness, cannot fully comprehend or authentically replicate. (pp. 68-69) Kindle Edition.
Social Authenticity Competencies
- Empathy: Understand and respond to others’ feelings and perspectives.
- Emotional Intelligence: Recognize, regulate, and express emotions appropriately.
- Authentic Communication: Build trust through honesty, transparency, and active listening.
- Collaborative Leadership: Inspire and guide others toward shared goals with respect and integrity.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Navigate diverse social contexts with respect and openness.
So yes, AI can do a lot, but it cannot be us. As Bornet explains,
“One human element withstands the test of time: our humanity.” (p. 67)
And perhaps this is the most important reminder for educators, leaders, and all of us navigating this AI-driven age: our irreplaceable value lies not in outpacing machines, but in doubling down on what makes us uniquely human.
References
- Based on Bornet, P. (2024). Irreplaceable: The art of standing out in the age of artificial intelligence. Wiley.
- Hill, K. (2025, August 26). Teen commits suicide after developing emotional attachment to AI chatbot. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/technology/chatgpt-openai-suicide.html
