Pascal Mariany about his book: "The real question is not what AI can do, but what we want to continue doing, learning and shaping"

CivAI founder and CEO Pascal Mariany was interviewed by Managementboek.nl about his book The Art of Living (and Coexisting) with AI. In the conversation, he explains why the human touch becomes even more important as AI takes on a greater role in our work and learning.

Mariany, who in addition to his role at CivAI also lectures at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, argues that the discussion about AI too often gets stuck on what the technology is capable of. "The real question is not what AI can do, but what we want to continue doing, learning, and shaping," he says. He prefers to see AI as a thinking partner, a companion, rather than just a productivity trick.

According to Mariany, the rise of AI demands more than just technical skills. Pedagogical and ethical awareness is needed: conscious choices about values, responsibility, and trust, not just about efficiency. Without this conscious shaping, AI can erode critical thinking, create dependency, and come between people and meaningful work.

His message to professionals, teachers, and organisations is therefore clear: always prioritise human qualities when deploying AI, such as critical thinking, creativity, and responsibility. Precisely the idea that also underpins EduGPT, CivAI’s sovereign AI platform for education.

Read the full interview on Managementboek.nl.

Order the book via this link.

Book cover: Managementboek.nl / publisher