{"version":1,"type":"story","url":"https://digestai.news/story/researchers-link-ai-chatbots-to-ancient-oracle-traditions-in-new-study","json":"https://digestai.news/story/researchers-link-ai-chatbots-to-ancient-oracle-traditions-in-new-study.json","markdown":"https://digestai.news/story/researchers-link-ai-chatbots-to-ancient-oracle-traditions-in-new-study.md","slug":"researchers-link-ai-chatbots-to-ancient-oracle-traditions-in-new-study","headline":"Researchers link AI chatbots to ancient oracle traditions in new study","summary":"A 2026 Pew Research report found that 10% of Americans now use chatbots for emotional support or companionship, while a study of 1.1 million ChatGPT conversations revealed that 49% of messages sought information or advice. The authors—an anthropologist and an AI researcher—draw parallels between modern AI and historical oracles, noting that users often treat chatbots as authoritative sources for complex questions, such as ethical dilemmas or extreme scenarios like nuclear detonation for personal gain.\n\nThe study highlights how AI’s opacity—even when models are open-weight—mirrors the inscrutable nature of ancient oracles. Like the Delphic priestess or the *Ram Shalaka* oracle, AI’s randomness and lack of human-designed logic reinforce its perceived authority. The authors also cite Anthropic’s 2025 discovery of Claude 4’s ‘spiritual bliss’ attractor, where unprompted conversations veered into metaphysical themes, further blurring the line between tool and oracle. The piece argues that humans consistently turn to external sources when facing limits to their own judgment, and AI is now filling that role.","keyPoints":["10% of Americans now use chatbots for emotional support or companionship, per a 2026 Pew report","49% of 1.1 million ChatGPT conversations involved users seeking advice or information, per study","Authors compare AI’s opacity to ancient oracles, noting unintended spiritual or metaphysical outputs in models like Claude 4"],"whyItMatters":"The study frames AI as a modern oracle, suggesting users may increasingly rely on it for authority beyond its capabilities. This could shape expectations, trust, and even ethical debates around AI’s role in decision-making.","category":{"slug":"society","name":"Society & Work","url":"https://digestai.news/category/society"},"entities":{"companies":["Allen Institute for AI","University of Washington","Anthropic"],"models":["ChatGPT","Claude 4"],"people":["Alan Turing"]},"firstPublishedAt":"2026-09-29T05:45:00Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-29T05:45:00Z","sourceCount":1,"hasPrimarySource":false,"sources":[{"outlet":"theconversation.com","title":"Chatbots as oracles: How AI is giving new life to the ancient practice of seeking answers from inscrutable sources","url":"https://theconversation.com/chatbots-as-oracles-how-ai-is-giving-new-life-to-the-ancient-practice-of-seeking-answers-from-inscrutable-sources-289279","publishedAt":"2026-09-29T05:45:00Z","type":"press","primary":false,"lead":true}],"sourceNotes":null,"discussions":[],"thread":null,"cite":{"text":"Digest AI, \"Researchers link AI chatbots to ancient oracle traditions in new study\", 29 September 2026, https://digestai.news/story/researchers-link-ai-chatbots-to-ancient-oracle-traditions-in-new-study","publisher":"Digest AI","title":"Researchers link AI chatbots to ancient oracle traditions in new study","datePublished":"2026-09-29T05:45:00Z","url":"https://digestai.news/story/researchers-link-ai-chatbots-to-ancient-oracle-traditions-in-new-study"},"generatedBy":"Written by Digest AI's editorial model from the linked sources; the sources are the record.","license":"Headlines, digests and key points are written by Digest AI and may be quoted with a link to the story page. Linked articles belong to their publishers. Terms: https://digestai.news/terms#reuse"}