When artificial intelligence and authentic intelligence join forces – Day of the Liberal Professions 2025

On 11 June, the EESC’s Liberal Professions Category held its ninth Day of the Liberal Professions. Entitled When artificial intelligence and authentic intelligence join forces, this year’s event focused on one of the most pressing questions of our time: how to integrate AI technologies into liberal professions services in a way that preserves trust, ethics, and human responsibility.

In his opening address, Category spokesperson Rudolf Kolbe underlined that liberal professions are not in competition with AI — they stand for the right way to handle it. The liberal professions, from medicine to law, engineering to architecture, are built on a foundation of public trust and personal responsibility. They thrive on authentic intelligence: expertise, ethics, empathy and judgement. AI is a powerful tool, but it is not neutral, and it must not replace the core values that define the liberal professions. Critical thinking, transparency and accountability remain indispensable.

The keynote speech by Professor Ulrich Bodenhofer painted a clear and realistic picture of what AI is — and what it is not. His core message: AI is a useful assistant, not autonomous intelligence. Liberal professionals must stay vigilant and always apply their authentic intelligence when using such tools.

Over three panel discussions, 11 speakers from across the EU addressed the many challenges and opportunities that AI brings. Several key messages were delivered throughout the day. Miriam D’Arrigo from Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG Connect) said it is essential that professions actively shape the governance of AI tools. Anna Maria Bardone, President of the Italian Industrial Property Consultants Institute, reminded participants that liberal professions, with their strong ethical values, should serve as role models for responsible AI deployment — both within their fields and across society.

During the second panel, Stephan Hofmeister, President of the German Federal Association of the Liberal Professions, warned that responsibility and liability must always remain with the professional. Gordon Micallef of the Malta Institute of Accountants underlined the need for robust oversight and continuous human involvement when using AI in financial and accounting services. Margherita Pagani, Director of the Skema Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Paris, advocated for humancentred AI that serves ethical and societal goals and warned of the environmental costs of large-scale use of AI.

In the final panel, Daniel Alge, President of the Austrian Federal Association of the Liberal Professions, delivered a powerful message: We must train AI to work with us, not for us — and we remain fully responsible and accountable for all services provided, with or without AI support.

The event showed that AI and authentic intelligence can complement each other — if guided by strong ethical frameworks, sound regulation and professional responsibility. Europe needs liberal professions as ethical anchors and trust builders in an AI-powered society. If all stakeholders work together, they can ensure that digital innovation remains human-centred and serves the common good.