Why Millions Are Turning to AI for Moral and Spiritual Advice
adariostrange · x · 2026-09-30
Anthropologist Webb Keane and CS professor Ambuj Tewari analyze AI's rise as a moral authority. A 2026 Pew report found 10% of Americans use chatbots for emotional support; a study of 1.1M ChatGPT conversations found 49% of messages sought advice. The 2021 Ask Delphi ethics site drew 3M queries in weeks, and its oracle-inspired name reinforced perceptions of inscrutable superior knowledge. The authors argue AI's very inscrutability echoes historical trust in oracles and divination.
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