The Science Behind: MentorAI

MentorAI

AI Should Empower Mentors, Not Replace Them. 

Rhodes, J. E. (in press). Human-at-the-helm: Redefining the role of artificial intelligence in student support. Applied Developmental Science. 

As colleges move quickly to deploy AI chatbots in place of advisors and peer mentors, this review article argues that substituting AI for human relationships threatens the developmental processes that make college transformative. It proposes a human-at-the-helm model in which AI aggregates student data and surfaces evidence-based strategies to reduce mentors’ cognitive load, while keeping real human relationships at the center of student support.

Vouching towards Bethlehem: What Colleges and Universities Owe Students in the Age of AI

Rhodes, J. E. (in press). Vouching towards Bethlehem: What colleges and universities owe students in the age of AI. Frontiers in Education, 11, 1855989. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2026.1855989[frontiersin]

This perspective piece argues that as AI automates both student work and employer screening, the most irreplaceable thing a university can offer is a mentor who knows a student well enough to stake their reputation on their behalf. It introduces the concept of a “vouching gap,” the growing divide between students who graduate with credible advocates and those who do not, and makes the case for AI systems that free mentors from administrative work so they can invest in the relationships that make real endorsement possible.