Indians turn to AI gurus for answers: ‘ChatGPT is not judging you’

When Kripa Vaidyanathan’s 27-year-old niece died in an Alaska car crash in 2024, her family in Chennai, India, felt shell-shocked. They questioned why this tragedy would befall them when they had such “immense faith in God”.Vaidyanathan, a yoga instructor, helped her grieving sister get face time with a high-profile guru whom she hoped would help.“But he told her this was the work of karma and she should use this opportunity to connect with her inner nature,” she said. “I understand how karma works, but saying that was cruel and extremely unhelpful to someone who was freshly grieving the loss of a child.”That was when they turned to Artificial Intelligence chatbots.“It was a lot easier trying to get answers and peace of mind because ChatGPT is not judging you,” Vaidyanathan said. “We’ve found a compassionate guru now, but even he only has limited time. AI is accessible anytime.”Idols of Hindu deities are prepared ahead of the Durga Puja festival at the Kumartuli potters’ quarter in Kolkata, India, on Friday. Photo: EPAThis unfettered access – which can be challenging to find among human gurus – is drawing more people to AI for spiritual guidance.