From The Conversation · Ambuj Tewari · · 1m
AI as modern oracles
Chatbots answer life's hard questions like ancient oracles.
In brief
Chatbots answer life's hard questions like ancient oracles. AI systems now provide answers to complex human dilemmas, mirroring historical practices of seeking guidance from inscrutable sources. Originally reported by The Conversation.
People turn to AI for advice
A 2026 Pew report found 10% of Americans use chatbots for emotional support.
Chatbots seek answers
49% of ChatGPT conversations involve users seeking information or advice.
Ask Delphi queries
Ask Delphi received 3 million ethical questions in weeks.
Delphi's ancient roots
Delphi named after Greek oracle who gave answers through trance states.
Oracles across history
Ram Shalaka and Christian bibliomancy use randomness to generate answers.
AI's black box
Chatbots' computations are inscrutable even with publicly available weights.
Spiritual bliss attractor
Claude 4 produced spiritual discussions without explicit training.
Why AI feels oracular
AI answers complex questions when human judgment reaches its limits.
What to remember
AI systems now provide answers to complex human dilemmas, mirroring historical practices of seeking guidance from inscrutable sources.
