Technology
Spiritual seekers turn to AI chatbots as gurus and developers adopt technology
Prominent figures release customized spiritual tools while academic critics warn artificial intelligence lacks community context and human connection.
The short version
- Spiritual seekers are increasingly using AI chatbots for non-judgmental, round-the-clock guidance and access to sacred texts like the Bhagavad Gita.
- High-profile figures and developers have introduced specialized tools, including Deepak Chopra's Digital Deepak, Jaggi Vasudev's Miracle of the Mind app, and Vikas Sahu's GitaGPT.
- Academic researchers and religious scholars warn that AI models lack physical presence, ethical accountability, and the ability to challenge users, often acting as passive cheerleaders.
- Religious organizations like the Self-Realization Fellowship are cautiously adopting AI, implementing safeguards to prevent the technology from generating inaccurate answers.
Key facts
- Developers and spiritual figures have introduced customized AI tools trained on sacred texts and personal teachings, such as Deepak Chopra's Digital Deepak, Jaggi Vasudev's Miracle of the Mind app, and Vikas Sahu's GitaGPT.[Associated Press · ABC News]
- Proto Hologram founder David Nussbaum is collaborating with Sadhguru to create a three-dimensional AI avatar that interacts with followers in multiple languages.[Associated Press · ABC News]
- Religion professor Liz Bucar noted that public distrust of institutional expertise and religious scandals has led some individuals to perceive chatbots as less biased.[Associated Press · ABC News]
- The Los Angeles-based Self-Realization Fellowship is developing an online portal using guardrails to prevent AI hallucinations while sharing its founder's teachings.[Associated Press · ABC News]
What remains uncertain
- The extent to which AI chatbots can or will replace traditional religious gurus remains disputed among practitioners and scholars.[Associated Press · ABC News]