This document, titled “Cognitive Enhancement or Existential Substitution — An Inquiry into the Boundaries of Human Agency under the AI Technological Paradigm,” is authored by Song Yuqing from Tianjin University of Technology and Education. It explores whether artificial intelligence can replace humans through multi-layered analysis. The report examines AI's impact on human development, referencing the UNDP's 2025 Human Development Report. It discusses AI's role in replacing repetitive tasks while arguing that core human attributes—consciousness, empathy, creativity, moral judgment, and sociality—remain irreplaceable. The document further distinguishes between traditional AI, which relies on formal rules and logic, and the modern large-model paradigm, which learns statistically from vast datasets. Through conceptual discussions on intelligence, computability, Turing machines, and philosophical questions such as the formal definition of “artificial,” the text emphasizes that AI is more likely to augment human capabilities than replace them entirely. It concludes by highlighting the importance of human-AI collaboration and outlines skills individuals should cultivate to thrive alongside AI, such as critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, and interdisciplinary learning. The document includes numerous examples, diagrams, and references, positioning the debate as an open, ongoing inquiry into human identity and technological possibility.