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IRREPLACEABLE: The Art of Standing Out in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Pascal Bornet, an award-winning AI expert, former McKinsey executive, and Top Voice in Technology with over 1 million LinkedIn followers, unveils the ultimate guide for working, living, and leading organizations in a rapidly changing, AI-driven world.
With over 20 years of pioneering research at the human-AI intersection, Bornet reveals the secrets to living in harmony with AI while cultivating uniquely human qualities. He introduces the Three Competencies of the Future that we need to develop urgently to thrive in our new world.
In IRREPLACEABLE, you will
Techniques to boost your career using AI—without losing your job to automation Secrets to unlocking your uniquely human abilities—ones AI can NEVER replicate Counterintuitive methods to raise Future-ready children Strategies to avoid falling into the "AI Obesity" trap Blueprints for leveraging AI to turn your company into an unstoppable force of innovation
Whether you're an individual looking to future-proof your career, a parent aiming to raise future-proof children, or a business leader eager to steer your organization through technological disruption, IRREPLACEABLE offers a universal and comprehensive framework.
AI is not the destination; it's the vehicle that takes us to a more human future, and this book is your GPS.
Stand out. Become IRREPLACEABLE.
With over 20 years of pioneering research at the human-AI intersection, Bornet reveals the secrets to living in harmony with AI while cultivating uniquely human qualities. He introduces the Three Competencies of the Future that we need to develop urgently to thrive in our new world.
In IRREPLACEABLE, you will
Techniques to boost your career using AI—without losing your job to automation Secrets to unlocking your uniquely human abilities—ones AI can NEVER replicate Counterintuitive methods to raise Future-ready children Strategies to avoid falling into the "AI Obesity" trap Blueprints for leveraging AI to turn your company into an unstoppable force of innovation
Whether you're an individual looking to future-proof your career, a parent aiming to raise future-proof children, or a business leader eager to steer your organization through technological disruption, IRREPLACEABLE offers a universal and comprehensive framework.
AI is not the destination; it's the vehicle that takes us to a more human future, and this book is your GPS.
Stand out. Become IRREPLACEABLE.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published September 11, 2024
73 people are currently reading
249 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 23, 2025
I stopped reading after three chapters and nearly one hundred mentions of the word IRREPLACEABLE (all caps). The message might be good, but I couldn't take it anymore.
July 16, 2025
I created a mind map summarizing the key concepts from the book. You can download it here for free.
Irreplaceable by Pascal Bornet offers a refreshing perspective on how to stay relevant in an AI-driven world. I found it incredibly empowering, especially the focus on embracing our Humics (Uniquely Human Abilities): creativity, critical thinking, and social authenticity. It’s a reminder that, in a world of machines, our adaptability and human traits are what truly set us apart. Highly suggested!
Irreplaceable by Pascal Bornet offers a refreshing perspective on how to stay relevant in an AI-driven world. I found it incredibly empowering, especially the focus on embracing our Humics (Uniquely Human Abilities): creativity, critical thinking, and social authenticity. It’s a reminder that, in a world of machines, our adaptability and human traits are what truly set us apart. Highly suggested!
September 8, 2024
Loved reading this excellent book!
I found the book very enlightening. Loved reading this treasure from my mentor and friend, Pascal. This book will definitely challenge readers and leaders to continuously adapt and reinvent themselves to remain irreplaceable in an ever-changing landscape. You can use this book as a framework to create a roadmap for staying ahead of the curve and making a lasting impact in a world shaped by technology. Each of these chapters contributes to a comprehensive exploration of the theme, offering us (readers) a well-rounded understanding of becoming irreplaceable in the context of AI and the future of work.
I wholeheartedly agree with Pascal that we are not just witnessing technological advancement; we're stepping into an era where AI, robotics, and computer vision merge, dramatically changing the landscape of human labor. All the best, Pascal for this wonderful book!
Cheers, Pooja Sund
I found the book very enlightening. Loved reading this treasure from my mentor and friend, Pascal. This book will definitely challenge readers and leaders to continuously adapt and reinvent themselves to remain irreplaceable in an ever-changing landscape. You can use this book as a framework to create a roadmap for staying ahead of the curve and making a lasting impact in a world shaped by technology. Each of these chapters contributes to a comprehensive exploration of the theme, offering us (readers) a well-rounded understanding of becoming irreplaceable in the context of AI and the future of work.
I wholeheartedly agree with Pascal that we are not just witnessing technological advancement; we're stepping into an era where AI, robotics, and computer vision merge, dramatically changing the landscape of human labor. All the best, Pascal for this wonderful book!
Cheers, Pooja Sund
February 4, 2026
Reading IRREPLACEABLE felt like standing in a room where the lights are slowly getting brighter. Nothing explodes. No alarms. You just start noticing things you’ve been ignoring.
What Pascal Bornet is really talking about isn’t AI. It’s attention. Responsibility. The quiet erosion of thinking that happens when answers arrive too quickly and decisions feel optional. AI doesn’t take anything from us. We hand things over because it’s easier.
The Humics idea lands not because it’s clever, but because it’s obvious in hindsight. Machines don’t hesitate. They don’t doubt. They don’t care if a decision hurts someone. Humans do, and that friction is the point, not the flaw.
This book doesn’t motivate you. It corners you. It asks whether you’re still choosing how you think, or just reacting to outputs. It doesn’t say the future will be human. It asks whether you still want it to be.
I don’t know if “irreplaceable” is the right word. But I do know this. If we lose judgment, empathy, and meaning in the process of adopting AI, whatever replaces us won’t be better. It’ll just be faster.
That’s not a technical problem.
That’s a human one.
What Pascal Bornet is really talking about isn’t AI. It’s attention. Responsibility. The quiet erosion of thinking that happens when answers arrive too quickly and decisions feel optional. AI doesn’t take anything from us. We hand things over because it’s easier.
The Humics idea lands not because it’s clever, but because it’s obvious in hindsight. Machines don’t hesitate. They don’t doubt. They don’t care if a decision hurts someone. Humans do, and that friction is the point, not the flaw.
This book doesn’t motivate you. It corners you. It asks whether you’re still choosing how you think, or just reacting to outputs. It doesn’t say the future will be human. It asks whether you still want it to be.
I don’t know if “irreplaceable” is the right word. But I do know this. If we lose judgment, empathy, and meaning in the process of adopting AI, whatever replaces us won’t be better. It’ll just be faster.
That’s not a technical problem.
That’s a human one.
February 3, 2026
I believe IRREPLACEABLE is right about one thing above all else: AI is not the real threat. Human complacency is.
We keep blaming technology when what’s actually happening is that we are choosing convenience over thinking. Bornet’s argument about Humics makes sense to me. Creativity, empathy, and judgment are not optional extras anymore. They are the line between relevance and irrelevance. If people lose their jobs to AI, it won’t be because AI is evil. It’ll be because they stopped developing themselves.
We keep blaming technology when what’s actually happening is that we are choosing convenience over thinking. Bornet’s argument about Humics makes sense to me. Creativity, empathy, and judgment are not optional extras anymore. They are the line between relevance and irrelevance. If people lose their jobs to AI, it won’t be because AI is evil. It’ll be because they stopped developing themselves.
February 5, 2026
It keeps asking the same question from different angles: what part of us still matters when machines get smarter?
The Tuareg story about deliberately practicing change was one of the strongest moments for me. It made adaptation feel like a habit, not a reaction. That felt very relevant in an AI world where waiting too long is already a decision.
The Tuareg story about deliberately practicing change was one of the strongest moments for me. It made adaptation feel like a habit, not a reaction. That felt very relevant in an AI world where waiting too long is already a decision.
February 3, 2026
This book made me uncomfortable in a good way. It forced me to notice how often I let AI think for me without questioning it. The idea of “AI Obesity” hit close to home. We love convenience, but we rarely talk about what it slowly takes away from us. This isn’t a hype book or a fear book. It’s more like a quiet warning mixed with hope. If you’re willing to stay mentally awake, you’ll get a lot out of it.
September 8, 2024
A stand out book on standing out
With AI seemingly everywhere, and impacting everything we do, it’s imperative to have a plan. This book not only explores the age of AI, it shares a methodology and approach to survive and thrive in life and work. It’s a great resource for anyone hoping to become irreplaceable.
With AI seemingly everywhere, and impacting everything we do, it’s imperative to have a plan. This book not only explores the age of AI, it shares a methodology and approach to survive and thrive in life and work. It’s a great resource for anyone hoping to become irreplaceable.
January 26, 2026
This book surprised me in a good way. Most AI books either scare you about losing your job or drown you in tech jargon. Irreplaceable does neither. Pascal Bornet talks about AI like someone who understands it deeply but also understands humans, which is honestly rare.
What I liked most is that the book doesn’t frame AI as the enemy. Bornet makes it clear that AI is a tool, not a replacement for being human. The focus is not on competing with machines, but on doubling down on what machines simply can’t do. Things like judgment, empathy, creativity, and meaning. He explains these ideas without sounding preachy or abstract, which makes them easy to actually reflect on.
The idea of the “AI Obesity” trap really stuck with me. The more we outsource thinking without awareness, the weaker some of our mental muscles become. That felt uncomfortably accurate. At the same time, the book isn’t anti-AI at all. It shows how to use AI to grow faster in your career and organization without letting it hollow you out as a human being.
I also appreciated that this isn’t just a career book. Parents, leaders, and everyday professionals can all take something away from it. The sections on raising future-ready children were thoughtful and practical rather than alarmist. Bornet keeps returning to the same core idea. AI may be advancing fast, but the future still belongs to people who develop strong human capabilities.
If you’re looking for a book that helps you think clearly about where you fit in an AI-driven world, without fear or hype, this is a solid read. It feels more like a guide for staying grounded and relevant than a manual for chasing the next tech trend.
What I liked most is that the book doesn’t frame AI as the enemy. Bornet makes it clear that AI is a tool, not a replacement for being human. The focus is not on competing with machines, but on doubling down on what machines simply can’t do. Things like judgment, empathy, creativity, and meaning. He explains these ideas without sounding preachy or abstract, which makes them easy to actually reflect on.
The idea of the “AI Obesity” trap really stuck with me. The more we outsource thinking without awareness, the weaker some of our mental muscles become. That felt uncomfortably accurate. At the same time, the book isn’t anti-AI at all. It shows how to use AI to grow faster in your career and organization without letting it hollow you out as a human being.
I also appreciated that this isn’t just a career book. Parents, leaders, and everyday professionals can all take something away from it. The sections on raising future-ready children were thoughtful and practical rather than alarmist. Bornet keeps returning to the same core idea. AI may be advancing fast, but the future still belongs to people who develop strong human capabilities.
If you’re looking for a book that helps you think clearly about where you fit in an AI-driven world, without fear or hype, this is a solid read. It feels more like a guide for staying grounded and relevant than a manual for chasing the next tech trend.
July 3, 2025
Pretty good book about how to not be replaced by AI! I think there are some great tips and advice for people to work in collaboration with AI and make sure that we help keep the human attributes in the picture.
November 27, 2024
It is difficult to conclude on this super hot subject of GenAI and its impact on the symboleracy, literacy, numeracy, and techneracy of Homo Sapiens as a species, a historical species which went and is still going through a phylogeny that brings them all the time to higher points and higher powers. Unluckily it has harmed the planet, and it has at least accelerated its cyclical evolution. Every invention, discovery, or development has expanded human capabilities by extending one physical or mental human capability and thus replacing that human capability with a machine or a mechanical procedure.
Will GenAI replace our human thinking? That question is legitimate, and the answer is “Yes if we do not cultivate the capabilities that the machine cannot reproduce, mimic, or vampirize.” That machine can do what it wants – if it wants anything that is based on the program in its Central Processing Unit – but it will not experience love in any comparable way as a human does. [Steven Spielberg, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, 2001] Love, of course, and hatred as well. It may mimic racism and convey racist ideas it has gathered in the clouds of our digital age, but it will not be able to experience the human feelings a racist person experiences, and their victims suffer through, including the ultimate knowledge that death might or even will be the (ex-)termination of their lives. A machine can commit genocide, and yet it is not genocidal because it does not know what it is doing. It only obeys what its CPU tells it to do.
However, and mind you Pascal Bornet is clear about it, we humans can excel beyond this GenAI. I am afraid an elite will be able to survive GenAI, but what dimension of the human mind will GenAI bring to mutation and phylogenic development? How will we develop a new potential expansion of our physical and mental being, and become something new, better, more developed? We go back to Buddhism and its “anicca” principle that everything constantly changes from one moment to the next. Many people, including Buddhists, think that this constant change is the disappearance of what exists now, and they do not see it is also the emergence of something better, more powerful, and more human. Right now, we do not see what’s coming. I do not think we need a Prophet for that, just a very proficient mind. Probably a team of such minds or even teams of such minds.
From simple bipedal walking, Homo Sapiens developed into a fast long-distance bipedal runner. From there then, he developed wheels, carts, bicycles, trains, planes and so many other means of transportation that are the extensions of our fast, bipedal, long-distance running. GenAI imitates and mimics our mental functions, and even our symbolic creativity, how can we use this to go one step, at least one step, further in our long phylogeny? Pascal Bornet does not suggest anything apart from focusing on three Humics we already have. What is beyond these three Humics that GenAI cannot even dream of challenging, at least within its present framework? Think of our ancestors who, for the first time in their migrations, came to a big river. What did they do to cross it? They had the choice between swimming (provided they had developed swimming), building some kind of “boat” that would carry them across with some help from oars that had to be invented, or even, inventing a bridge that could go from one bank to the other. When did Homo Sapiens build their first bridge? A long time after learning how to swim or building a boat with oars. Phylogenic Techneracy Oblige! “Honi soit qui mal y pense”
That's where GenAI is forcing us to go beyond our own limits. Once again. The adventure is far from being finished, except if some humans in our community decide to destroy the planet in order not to share it with anyone else in our community, or maybe after all someone from outside this planet, from out of space. E.T. versus Generative A.I. I'm not telling you: What a Generation!
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
VERSON FRANÇAISE
Il est difficile de tirer des conclusions sur ce sujet brûlant de l’intelligence artificielle et de son impact sur le pouvoir symbolique humain, l’alphabétisme/lettrisme, la numéracie mathématique et la virtuosité technologique d’Homo Sapiens en tant qu’espèce, une espèce historique qui a tracé et trace encore une phylogénie qui l’amène sans cesse à des points de rupture vers des pouvoirs supérieurs. Malheureusement, cette/notre espèce a fait du mal à la planète, et elle a au moins accéléré son évolution cyclique. Chaque invention, découverte ou développement a élargi les capacités humaines en démultipliant une capacité humaine physique ou mentale et en remplaçant ainsi cette capacité humaine par une machine ou une procédure mécanique.
L’intelligence artificielle va-t-elle remplacer notre pensée humaine ? Cette question est légitime, et la réponse est « Oui, si nous ne cultivons pas les capacités que la machine ne peut pas reproduire, imiter ou vampiriser. » Cette machine peut faire ce qu’elle veut – si elle veut quelque chose qui est basé sur le programme de son unité centrale de traitement – mais elle ne ressentira pas l’amour de la même manière qu’un humain. [Steven Spielberg, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, 2001] L’amour, bien sûr, et la haine aussi. Elle peut imiter le racisme et véhiculer des idées racistes qu’elle a recueillies dans les nuages virtuels de notre ère numérique, mais elle ne sera pas capable de ressentir les sentiments humains qu’éprouve une personne raciste et que ses victimes subissent, y compris la connaissance ultime que la mort pourrait être ou sera même l’extermination de leur vie. Une machine peut commettre un génocide, et pourtant elle n’est pas génocidaire parce qu’elle ne sait pas ce qu’elle fait. Elle obéit seulement à ce que son processeur lui dit de faire. L’homme serait-il une machine ?
Cependant, et remarquez que Pascal Bornet est clair à ce sujet, nous, les humains, pouvons exceller au-delà de cette GenAI. Mais je crains que seule une élite soit capable de lui survivre, mais quelle dimension de l’esprit humain la GenAI apportera-t-elle à la mutation et au développement phylogénique qui produira cette élite ? Comment allons-nous développer une nouvelle expansion potentielle de notre être physique et mental, et devenir quelque chose de nouveau, de meilleur, de plus développé ? Nous revenons au bouddhisme et à son principe « anicca » selon lequel tout change constamment d’un moment à l’autre. Beaucoup de gens, y compris les bouddhistes, pensent que ce changement constant est la disparition de ce qui existe maintenant, et ils ne voient pas que c'est aussi l'émergence de quelque chose de meilleur, de plus puissant et de plus humain. Pour l'instant, nous ne voyons pas ce qui vient. Je ne pense pas que nous ayons besoin d'un prophète pour cela, juste d'un esprit très compétent. Probablement d'une équipe de tels esprits ou même d'équipes de tels esprits.
De la simple marche bipède, Homo Sapiens est devenu un coureur bipède rapide sur longue distance. De là, il a développé des roues, des charrettes, des vélos, des trains, des avions et tant d'autres moyens de transport qui sont les extensions de notre course rapide, bipède et longue distance. GenAI imite et mime nos fonctions mentales, et même notre créativité symbolique, comment pouvons-nous utiliser cela pour aller un pas, au moins un pas, plus loin dans notre longue phylogénie ? Pascal Bornet ne suggère rien d'autre que de se concentrer sur trois Humiques que nous avons déjà. Qu'y a-t-il au-delà de ces trois Humiques que GenAI ne peut même pas rêver de remettre en question, du moins dans son cadre actuel ? Pensez à nos ancêtres qui, pour la première fois de leur migration hors d’Afrique Noire, se sont retrouvés face à un grand fleuve, ou les bras de mer entre Djibouti et Aden et le détroit d’Ormuz. Comment ont-ils fait pour les traverser ? Ils avaient le choix entre nager (à condition d’avoir développé la nage), construire une sorte de « bateau » qui les porterait à l’aide de quelques rames qu’il fallait inventer, ou encore inventer un pont qui permettrait de passer d’une rive à l’autre (ils n’ont pas encore atteint ce stade là de leur phylogénie.. Quand Homo Sapiens a-t-il construit son premier pont ? Bien longtemps après avoir appris à nager ou à construire un bateau à rames ou à voile. Technoratie phylogénétique oblige ! « Honi soit qui mal y pense. »
C’est là que GenAI nous force à dépasser nos propres limites. Une fois de plus. L’aventure est loin d’être terminée, sauf si certains humains de notre communauté décident de détruire la planète pour ne la partager avec personne d’autre de notre communauté, ou peut-être après tout quelqu’un de l’extérieur de cette planète, de l’espace. E.T. contre A. I. Générative. Je ne vous dis pas : Quelle Génération !
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
Will GenAI replace our human thinking? That question is legitimate, and the answer is “Yes if we do not cultivate the capabilities that the machine cannot reproduce, mimic, or vampirize.” That machine can do what it wants – if it wants anything that is based on the program in its Central Processing Unit – but it will not experience love in any comparable way as a human does. [Steven Spielberg, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, 2001] Love, of course, and hatred as well. It may mimic racism and convey racist ideas it has gathered in the clouds of our digital age, but it will not be able to experience the human feelings a racist person experiences, and their victims suffer through, including the ultimate knowledge that death might or even will be the (ex-)termination of their lives. A machine can commit genocide, and yet it is not genocidal because it does not know what it is doing. It only obeys what its CPU tells it to do.
However, and mind you Pascal Bornet is clear about it, we humans can excel beyond this GenAI. I am afraid an elite will be able to survive GenAI, but what dimension of the human mind will GenAI bring to mutation and phylogenic development? How will we develop a new potential expansion of our physical and mental being, and become something new, better, more developed? We go back to Buddhism and its “anicca” principle that everything constantly changes from one moment to the next. Many people, including Buddhists, think that this constant change is the disappearance of what exists now, and they do not see it is also the emergence of something better, more powerful, and more human. Right now, we do not see what’s coming. I do not think we need a Prophet for that, just a very proficient mind. Probably a team of such minds or even teams of such minds.
From simple bipedal walking, Homo Sapiens developed into a fast long-distance bipedal runner. From there then, he developed wheels, carts, bicycles, trains, planes and so many other means of transportation that are the extensions of our fast, bipedal, long-distance running. GenAI imitates and mimics our mental functions, and even our symbolic creativity, how can we use this to go one step, at least one step, further in our long phylogeny? Pascal Bornet does not suggest anything apart from focusing on three Humics we already have. What is beyond these three Humics that GenAI cannot even dream of challenging, at least within its present framework? Think of our ancestors who, for the first time in their migrations, came to a big river. What did they do to cross it? They had the choice between swimming (provided they had developed swimming), building some kind of “boat” that would carry them across with some help from oars that had to be invented, or even, inventing a bridge that could go from one bank to the other. When did Homo Sapiens build their first bridge? A long time after learning how to swim or building a boat with oars. Phylogenic Techneracy Oblige! “Honi soit qui mal y pense”
That's where GenAI is forcing us to go beyond our own limits. Once again. The adventure is far from being finished, except if some humans in our community decide to destroy the planet in order not to share it with anyone else in our community, or maybe after all someone from outside this planet, from out of space. E.T. versus Generative A.I. I'm not telling you: What a Generation!
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
VERSON FRANÇAISE
Il est difficile de tirer des conclusions sur ce sujet brûlant de l’intelligence artificielle et de son impact sur le pouvoir symbolique humain, l’alphabétisme/lettrisme, la numéracie mathématique et la virtuosité technologique d’Homo Sapiens en tant qu’espèce, une espèce historique qui a tracé et trace encore une phylogénie qui l’amène sans cesse à des points de rupture vers des pouvoirs supérieurs. Malheureusement, cette/notre espèce a fait du mal à la planète, et elle a au moins accéléré son évolution cyclique. Chaque invention, découverte ou développement a élargi les capacités humaines en démultipliant une capacité humaine physique ou mentale et en remplaçant ainsi cette capacité humaine par une machine ou une procédure mécanique.
L’intelligence artificielle va-t-elle remplacer notre pensée humaine ? Cette question est légitime, et la réponse est « Oui, si nous ne cultivons pas les capacités que la machine ne peut pas reproduire, imiter ou vampiriser. » Cette machine peut faire ce qu’elle veut – si elle veut quelque chose qui est basé sur le programme de son unité centrale de traitement – mais elle ne ressentira pas l’amour de la même manière qu’un humain. [Steven Spielberg, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, 2001] L’amour, bien sûr, et la haine aussi. Elle peut imiter le racisme et véhiculer des idées racistes qu’elle a recueillies dans les nuages virtuels de notre ère numérique, mais elle ne sera pas capable de ressentir les sentiments humains qu’éprouve une personne raciste et que ses victimes subissent, y compris la connaissance ultime que la mort pourrait être ou sera même l’extermination de leur vie. Une machine peut commettre un génocide, et pourtant elle n’est pas génocidaire parce qu’elle ne sait pas ce qu’elle fait. Elle obéit seulement à ce que son processeur lui dit de faire. L’homme serait-il une machine ?
Cependant, et remarquez que Pascal Bornet est clair à ce sujet, nous, les humains, pouvons exceller au-delà de cette GenAI. Mais je crains que seule une élite soit capable de lui survivre, mais quelle dimension de l’esprit humain la GenAI apportera-t-elle à la mutation et au développement phylogénique qui produira cette élite ? Comment allons-nous développer une nouvelle expansion potentielle de notre être physique et mental, et devenir quelque chose de nouveau, de meilleur, de plus développé ? Nous revenons au bouddhisme et à son principe « anicca » selon lequel tout change constamment d’un moment à l’autre. Beaucoup de gens, y compris les bouddhistes, pensent que ce changement constant est la disparition de ce qui existe maintenant, et ils ne voient pas que c'est aussi l'émergence de quelque chose de meilleur, de plus puissant et de plus humain. Pour l'instant, nous ne voyons pas ce qui vient. Je ne pense pas que nous ayons besoin d'un prophète pour cela, juste d'un esprit très compétent. Probablement d'une équipe de tels esprits ou même d'équipes de tels esprits.
De la simple marche bipède, Homo Sapiens est devenu un coureur bipède rapide sur longue distance. De là, il a développé des roues, des charrettes, des vélos, des trains, des avions et tant d'autres moyens de transport qui sont les extensions de notre course rapide, bipède et longue distance. GenAI imite et mime nos fonctions mentales, et même notre créativité symbolique, comment pouvons-nous utiliser cela pour aller un pas, au moins un pas, plus loin dans notre longue phylogénie ? Pascal Bornet ne suggère rien d'autre que de se concentrer sur trois Humiques que nous avons déjà. Qu'y a-t-il au-delà de ces trois Humiques que GenAI ne peut même pas rêver de remettre en question, du moins dans son cadre actuel ? Pensez à nos ancêtres qui, pour la première fois de leur migration hors d’Afrique Noire, se sont retrouvés face à un grand fleuve, ou les bras de mer entre Djibouti et Aden et le détroit d’Ormuz. Comment ont-ils fait pour les traverser ? Ils avaient le choix entre nager (à condition d’avoir développé la nage), construire une sorte de « bateau » qui les porterait à l’aide de quelques rames qu’il fallait inventer, ou encore inventer un pont qui permettrait de passer d’une rive à l’autre (ils n’ont pas encore atteint ce stade là de leur phylogénie.. Quand Homo Sapiens a-t-il construit son premier pont ? Bien longtemps après avoir appris à nager ou à construire un bateau à rames ou à voile. Technoratie phylogénétique oblige ! « Honi soit qui mal y pense. »
C’est là que GenAI nous force à dépasser nos propres limites. Une fois de plus. L’aventure est loin d’être terminée, sauf si certains humains de notre communauté décident de détruire la planète pour ne la partager avec personne d’autre de notre communauté, ou peut-être après tout quelqu’un de l’extérieur de cette planète, de l’espace. E.T. contre A. I. Générative. Je ne vous dis pas : Quelle Génération !
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
January 10, 2025
Pascal Bornet’s book, "Irreplaceable," is a transformative resource for anyone navigating the complexities of AI and its impact on our world. As someone deeply involved in digital health and the One Health approach at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre, I found Bornet’s insights particularly relevant and inspiring.
The book offers a well-structured framework that is both practical and visionary, challenging readers to embrace AI while maintaining a strong focus on human-centric skills and values. Bornet's emphasis on collaboration between AI and humans resonates deeply with my work on digital health and preparedness for emerging (one) health crises.
Chapters 9, 10, 14, and 15 stood out to me, providing valuable insights and strategies that align with my scientific and entrepreneurial pursuits. The book's comprehensive approach to integrating AI tools and semantic dashboards is a great source of inspiration for those of us working in complex science-policy ecosystems. This is exactly why we EMBRACE creating science for policy digital dashboards & visuals for eg. decoding the global depression crises combining AI with humics skills.
Bornet’s book is as such also a call to action for addressing global challenges like the mental health crisis, encouraging us to leverage AI responsible and innovatively. Since the depression topic is a fil rouge in Bornet's book it even more inspired me reading his views and experiences and linking it to our science for policy report "Decoding Depression" (almost issued).
The engaging narrative and actionable insights make this a must-read for anyone looking to make a significant impact in the AI era.
I highly recommend "Irreplaceable" to experts and newcomers alike. It’s a great read for those seeking to harness AI’s potential while enhancing our uniquely human qualities. Bornet for sure used this blend for writing his book :)
Thank you, Pascal, for issuing such an insightful and impactful guide.
Best,
Sandra Coecke
The book offers a well-structured framework that is both practical and visionary, challenging readers to embrace AI while maintaining a strong focus on human-centric skills and values. Bornet's emphasis on collaboration between AI and humans resonates deeply with my work on digital health and preparedness for emerging (one) health crises.
Chapters 9, 10, 14, and 15 stood out to me, providing valuable insights and strategies that align with my scientific and entrepreneurial pursuits. The book's comprehensive approach to integrating AI tools and semantic dashboards is a great source of inspiration for those of us working in complex science-policy ecosystems. This is exactly why we EMBRACE creating science for policy digital dashboards & visuals for eg. decoding the global depression crises combining AI with humics skills.
Bornet’s book is as such also a call to action for addressing global challenges like the mental health crisis, encouraging us to leverage AI responsible and innovatively. Since the depression topic is a fil rouge in Bornet's book it even more inspired me reading his views and experiences and linking it to our science for policy report "Decoding Depression" (almost issued).
The engaging narrative and actionable insights make this a must-read for anyone looking to make a significant impact in the AI era.
I highly recommend "Irreplaceable" to experts and newcomers alike. It’s a great read for those seeking to harness AI’s potential while enhancing our uniquely human qualities. Bornet for sure used this blend for writing his book :)
Thank you, Pascal, for issuing such an insightful and impactful guide.
Best,
Sandra Coecke
December 23, 2024
I have selected this book as Stevo's Business Book of the Week for the week of 12/22, as it stands heads above other recently published books on this topic.
September 28, 2025
I gained much clarity about what AI can't replace, which is what the book delivers most strikingly. Creativity, empathy, leadership, and being a good listener are the human superpowers that AI simply does not offer - not even close. He describes the human capabilities that AI will never master as Humics: genuine creativity, critical thinking, and social authenticity. The author does well to repeat this mantra frequently, supported by numerous studies and examples from his research. Surprisingly, I gained insight into coaching practices from a book on AI! In his study with the nomadic Tuareg people, he learned about their practice and belief in the constant change of their habitat. By moving their camp, they cultivate the deliberate practice of change and learn to embrace it as possibilities, rather than losing what they have. In this manner, they are prepared for when change comes to them externally. This mindset practice is crucial for anyone dealing with and adapting to change, especially in the current context of AI.
Yes, the constant refrain of the word Irreplaceable can get annoying. But this quote forgave all: "The future doesn't give a damn about your child's diploma or IQ score. The future belongs to the IRREPLACEABLE-those who think and feel, not just those who process and memorize."
The final few chapters focused on adapting these concepts to a business or company, and the tables started to overload the pages; this section fell flat for me. Overall, a strong message about human superpowers that AI will never replace.
Yes, the constant refrain of the word Irreplaceable can get annoying. But this quote forgave all: "The future doesn't give a damn about your child's diploma or IQ score. The future belongs to the IRREPLACEABLE-those who think and feel, not just those who process and memorize."
The final few chapters focused on adapting these concepts to a business or company, and the tables started to overload the pages; this section fell flat for me. Overall, a strong message about human superpowers that AI will never replace.
February 8, 2026
I didn’t read this book like a book.
I read it like a diagnostic report.
Every few pages, I caught myself mentally checking symptoms.
Low attention span? Yes.
Outsourcing judgment? Yes.
Confusing speed with intelligence? Unfortunately, yes.
That’s when I realised what IRREPLACEABLE actually is. It’s not an AI book. It’s a stress test for the human operating system.
Bornet isn’t obsessed with what AI can do. He’s far more interested in what we stop doing when AI makes things easy. Thinking slowly. Listening properly. Sitting with uncertainty. Making decisions without hiding behind data or tools.
The concept of Humics felt less like a framework and more like a reminder of things we quietly abandoned. Creativity that’s messy. Empathy that costs time. Judgment that carries risk. AI doesn’t lack these. It simply has no use for them. We do.
What caught me off guard was how often this book made me uncomfortable without being dramatic. No doom. No sci-fi fantasies. Just a steady sense of “you can’t blame technology forever.” That’s a hard pill to swallow.
I don’t agree with everything. The word “irreplaceable” gets overused. And not everyone has the privilege to reinvent themselves at will. But the core message cuts through the noise. If you become replaceable in an AI world, it won’t be because machines got smarter overnight. It’ll be because you slowly stopped being human on purpose.
This book won’t make you better at AI.
It might make you harder to replace.
And honestly, that’s the more uncomfortable promise.
I read it like a diagnostic report.
Every few pages, I caught myself mentally checking symptoms.
Low attention span? Yes.
Outsourcing judgment? Yes.
Confusing speed with intelligence? Unfortunately, yes.
That’s when I realised what IRREPLACEABLE actually is. It’s not an AI book. It’s a stress test for the human operating system.
Bornet isn’t obsessed with what AI can do. He’s far more interested in what we stop doing when AI makes things easy. Thinking slowly. Listening properly. Sitting with uncertainty. Making decisions without hiding behind data or tools.
The concept of Humics felt less like a framework and more like a reminder of things we quietly abandoned. Creativity that’s messy. Empathy that costs time. Judgment that carries risk. AI doesn’t lack these. It simply has no use for them. We do.
What caught me off guard was how often this book made me uncomfortable without being dramatic. No doom. No sci-fi fantasies. Just a steady sense of “you can’t blame technology forever.” That’s a hard pill to swallow.
I don’t agree with everything. The word “irreplaceable” gets overused. And not everyone has the privilege to reinvent themselves at will. But the core message cuts through the noise. If you become replaceable in an AI world, it won’t be because machines got smarter overnight. It’ll be because you slowly stopped being human on purpose.
This book won’t make you better at AI.
It might make you harder to replace.
And honestly, that’s the more uncomfortable promise.
January 30, 2026
After reading IRREPLACEABLE, I kept thinking about how differently it approaches AI compared to 21 Lessons for the 21st Century.
Harari’s book looks at AI and technology from a wide, almost bird’s-eye view. It asks big philosophical questions about power, politics, truth, and how humans might lose control over systems they created. It is sharp, sometimes unsettling, and very intellectual. You close it feeling informed, but also slightly overwhelmed by how fragile humanity seems.
Irreplaceable works in the opposite direction. Pascal Bornet brings the discussion down to a very personal level. Instead of asking “What will AI do to humanity?” he asks “Who will you be in a world full of AI?” The focus is not fear or speculation, but practical clarity. What parts of you still matter. What skills you should stop neglecting. What machines will never truly touch.
While Harari warns about losing meaning, Bornet shows how to actively build it. The idea of Humics, creativity, critical thinking, empathy, and social authenticity, gives the reader something solid to hold on to. You are not just observing the future from a distance. You are preparing for it.
If 21 Lessons makes you pause and question the direction of the world, Irreplaceable helps you stand up and do something about your place in it. Together, they make a powerful pair. One explains the storm. The other teaches you how to stay human while walking through it.
Harari’s book looks at AI and technology from a wide, almost bird’s-eye view. It asks big philosophical questions about power, politics, truth, and how humans might lose control over systems they created. It is sharp, sometimes unsettling, and very intellectual. You close it feeling informed, but also slightly overwhelmed by how fragile humanity seems.
Irreplaceable works in the opposite direction. Pascal Bornet brings the discussion down to a very personal level. Instead of asking “What will AI do to humanity?” he asks “Who will you be in a world full of AI?” The focus is not fear or speculation, but practical clarity. What parts of you still matter. What skills you should stop neglecting. What machines will never truly touch.
While Harari warns about losing meaning, Bornet shows how to actively build it. The idea of Humics, creativity, critical thinking, empathy, and social authenticity, gives the reader something solid to hold on to. You are not just observing the future from a distance. You are preparing for it.
If 21 Lessons makes you pause and question the direction of the world, Irreplaceable helps you stand up and do something about your place in it. Together, they make a powerful pair. One explains the storm. The other teaches you how to stay human while walking through it.
January 22, 2026
I kept waiting for this book to tell me what tool to use.
It never did.
That annoyed me at first.
Most AI books feel like shopping lists. Learn this model. Use that workflow. Automate this task. Pascal Bornet refuses to play that game. Instead, IRREPLACEABLE keeps asking a much more uncomfortable question: what happens when everything gets easier, but you don’t get better?
The book reads like a long pause button. It slows you down in a world obsessed with speed. The idea of “AI Obesity” felt uncomfortably accurate. Not in a dramatic way. In a quiet, everyday way. Fewer decisions made. Less thinking. More delegation to machines without noticing the cost.
What surprised me most is that this book feels more philosophical than technological, but without drifting into vague ideas. The stories about education, leadership, and even nomadic cultures aren’t there to impress you. They’re there to show how adaptation is a practice, not a reaction.
I don’t think this book will change how companies use AI overnight. But I do think it might change how individuals show up to work the next day. More alert. More intentional. Slightly less automated.
This isn’t a book about staying ahead of AI.
It’s a book about not disappearing quietly while using it.
And that might be the more urgent conversation. Amazing read!
It never did.
That annoyed me at first.
Most AI books feel like shopping lists. Learn this model. Use that workflow. Automate this task. Pascal Bornet refuses to play that game. Instead, IRREPLACEABLE keeps asking a much more uncomfortable question: what happens when everything gets easier, but you don’t get better?
The book reads like a long pause button. It slows you down in a world obsessed with speed. The idea of “AI Obesity” felt uncomfortably accurate. Not in a dramatic way. In a quiet, everyday way. Fewer decisions made. Less thinking. More delegation to machines without noticing the cost.
What surprised me most is that this book feels more philosophical than technological, but without drifting into vague ideas. The stories about education, leadership, and even nomadic cultures aren’t there to impress you. They’re there to show how adaptation is a practice, not a reaction.
I don’t think this book will change how companies use AI overnight. But I do think it might change how individuals show up to work the next day. More alert. More intentional. Slightly less automated.
This isn’t a book about staying ahead of AI.
It’s a book about not disappearing quietly while using it.
And that might be the more urgent conversation. Amazing read!
October 30, 2024
While so much buzz about AI, driving value from it still a challenge and unclear on how we humans will need to change the book is a valuable resource when trying to answer some of the questions about how we can co-create the future. What are the non-AI skills that we need to develop? Is Critical thinking required? It is quite interesting to find out that AI is aware and can provide feedback on 188+ human biases while we have struggled for 10ths of years in organization to understand them when taking decisions. Counterintuitive, social abilities will be more in demand with AI increasing its footprint in our work life. Jobs will evolve, new ones will be created but we will be pushed to learn and change.
The 100 USD question answered in the book is how we can learn more effective? Space learning , storytelling and sleep are just few of the ways we can improve.
Last but not least I have enjoyed the "new" mindset required to co-exist if we want to work smarter and not harder. The 5 principles from the book may become a great orientation toolkit for us in the future(e.g balancing efficiency over effort, looking at value instead of volume,.....) I hope you will enjoy it as well!
The 100 USD question answered in the book is how we can learn more effective? Space learning , storytelling and sleep are just few of the ways we can improve.
Last but not least I have enjoyed the "new" mindset required to co-exist if we want to work smarter and not harder. The 5 principles from the book may become a great orientation toolkit for us in the future(e.g balancing efficiency over effort, looking at value instead of volume,.....) I hope you will enjoy it as well!
January 25, 2026
Irreplaceable is a reassuring, and practical guide for anyone navigating the AI‑driven future. The book’s core message is clear: don’t be scared; be prepared. Instead of fueling anxiety about automation, the goal is to focus on how one can thrive by developing the qualities that the machines can’t replicate. The author explains the difference between what AI does well (speed, accuracy, data-driven output) and what only humans do well: thinking creatively, acting ethically, and showing genuine authenticity.
The book’s strength is its practicality. It lays out a simple framework for adapting and leveraging AI where it helps, protecting privacy, using it responsibly, and intentionally developing uniquely human capabilities. This term is called "Humics" which comprises things like creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence. Instead of warning about job loss, the book focuses on how to merge human strengths with AI to become truly irreplaceable with confidence; not fear.
The book’s strength is its practicality. It lays out a simple framework for adapting and leveraging AI where it helps, protecting privacy, using it responsibly, and intentionally developing uniquely human capabilities. This term is called "Humics" which comprises things like creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence. Instead of warning about job loss, the book focuses on how to merge human strengths with AI to become truly irreplaceable with confidence; not fear.
February 7, 2026
Halfway through IRREPLACEABLE, I realised something odd. The book wasn’t teaching me how to use AI better. It was quietly showing me how often I avoid thinking when AI is available.
Pascal Bornet doesn’t argue loudly. He repeats himself. That repetition felt annoying at first, then intentional. Like someone circling the same truth until you stop dodging it. Speed isn’t wisdom. Automation isn’t intelligence. Convenience has a cost.
The Humics framework is less a framework and more a filter. Once you see it, you start noticing how little space we leave for judgment, empathy, and reflection in modern work. Not because they don’t matter, but because they slow things down.
This book doesn’t predict the future. It watches the present very closely. And what it sees is humans gradually stepping out of the loop while congratulating themselves for efficiency.
Pascal Bornet doesn’t argue loudly. He repeats himself. That repetition felt annoying at first, then intentional. Like someone circling the same truth until you stop dodging it. Speed isn’t wisdom. Automation isn’t intelligence. Convenience has a cost.
The Humics framework is less a framework and more a filter. Once you see it, you start noticing how little space we leave for judgment, empathy, and reflection in modern work. Not because they don’t matter, but because they slow things down.
This book doesn’t predict the future. It watches the present very closely. And what it sees is humans gradually stepping out of the loop while congratulating themselves for efficiency.
January 23, 2026
"This book picked fights with me. Here are the ones I lost.
1. “I’m using AI to be efficient.”
No, I’m using it to avoid discomfort.
2. “I’m still the one deciding.”
Am I? Or am I approving whatever sounds confident?
3. “Creativity is output.”
No, creativity is taste, risk, weirdness, and patience. Output is the easy part.
4. “Empathy is a nice bonus.”
No. Empathy is leverage. In teams, in parenting, in leadership. AI can mimic tone. It can’t care.
5. “The future is about learning tools.”
The future is about keeping judgment when everything is automated.
I don’t even care if you love Pascal Bornet’s frameworks or not. The book does one thing really well. It makes you notice the parts of yourself you’ve been quietly turning off."
1. “I’m using AI to be efficient.”
No, I’m using it to avoid discomfort.
2. “I’m still the one deciding.”
Am I? Or am I approving whatever sounds confident?
3. “Creativity is output.”
No, creativity is taste, risk, weirdness, and patience. Output is the easy part.
4. “Empathy is a nice bonus.”
No. Empathy is leverage. In teams, in parenting, in leadership. AI can mimic tone. It can’t care.
5. “The future is about learning tools.”
The future is about keeping judgment when everything is automated.
I don’t even care if you love Pascal Bornet’s frameworks or not. The book does one thing really well. It makes you notice the parts of yourself you’ve been quietly turning off."
July 28, 2025
An easy read. It is organized in a way that you can skim and jump your way through it looking for those nuggets of insights that resonate with you and your situation.
For example, I took a bunch from the first chapters that sets the argument and introduces ideas, concepts and terminology. As a teacher and parent, I spent more time on those chapters later on the book.
I jumped around the rest of the book focusing on the questions that resonated with me.
Overall it will be a good book to have on the shelf to dip into from time to time.
For example, I took a bunch from the first chapters that sets the argument and introduces ideas, concepts and terminology. As a teacher and parent, I spent more time on those chapters later on the book.
I jumped around the rest of the book focusing on the questions that resonated with me.
Overall it will be a good book to have on the shelf to dip into from time to time.
January 22, 2026
This piece really made me stop and think. It doesn’t panic about AI, and it doesn’t worship it either. Instead, it asks a much more interesting question: what parts of being human do we still need to protect and grow? The comparison to how humans learned to cross rivers over time felt especially strong. We didn’t jump straight to bridges. We learned by trying, failing, and adapting. GenAI feels like another river moment. Uncomfortable, uncertain, but full of possibility if we don’t give up our ability to feel, reflect, and choose.
September 8, 2024
Excellent insights on how to implement AI
If you are trying to understand AI, how to use AI, what you need to stand-out and get ahead with AI in a profound way, Pascal Bornet has given a fantastic resource to change the game for anyone searching for the right answers. Pascal's research and experience implementing AI for so many others allows him to design a road map for anyone to follow.
This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to find success using AI!
If you are trying to understand AI, how to use AI, what you need to stand-out and get ahead with AI in a profound way, Pascal Bornet has given a fantastic resource to change the game for anyone searching for the right answers. Pascal's research and experience implementing AI for so many others allows him to design a road map for anyone to follow.
This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to find success using AI!
September 12, 2025
An interesting read. A pretty balanced take on AI. Not too critical. Not a boomer or doomer. Very practical. A little overly optimistic. A good plan for how AI can augment rather than replace humanity and how we can use that to our advantage.
Very individulistic right wing/libertarian view of it all though. Mostly about what individuals can do, not what we as a society can do. No mention of any regulation or guard rails.
Very individulistic right wing/libertarian view of it all though. Mostly about what individuals can do, not what we as a society can do. No mention of any regulation or guard rails.
February 7, 2026
I picked this up for work reasons and ended up thinking about my personal habits more than my company strategy. That surprised me.
I appreciated the real industry examples instead of vague promises. This book works well if you’re a leader trying to integrate AI without breaking trust, culture, or creativity. Not flashy, but very grounded.
I appreciated the real industry examples instead of vague promises. This book works well if you’re a leader trying to integrate AI without breaking trust, culture, or creativity. Not flashy, but very grounded.
April 13, 2025
I like the author’s LinkedIn posts – always food for thought there. But this book? It’s slim pickings. The one thing I want to remember is the general rule that if an activity doesn’t bring you joy nor personal growth, let AI handle it!
February 6, 2026
Read this in two sittings. Easy to follow. Clear message. Use AI, but don’t let it use you. If you want endless hacks, look elsewhere. If you want to think about who you’re becoming in all this, this book works.
April 6, 2025
Good ideas, however I felt they could be squeezed into twice less pages.
May 19, 2025
Most used words in this book, in rough order of frequency:
- IRREPLACEABLE
- unprecedented
- delve into
- IRREPLACEABLE
- unprecedented
- delve into
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