Need spiritual guidance? Gurus join chatbot trend as people turn to AI for answers

When Kripa Vaidyanathan's 27-year-old niece passed away in a car crash in Alaska in 2024, her family in Chennai, India was left reeling. They struggled to find solace, questioning why such a tragedy had befallen them despite their strong faith in God. Vaidyanathan, a yoga instructor, sought help from a well-known guru, hoping they could offer guidance during this difficult time.

However, the guru told her that the tragedy was a result of karma, and that her niece should use this opportunity to connect with her inner nature. This response left Vaidyanathan feeling that the guru's words were insensitive and unhelpful to someone who was just coping with the loss of her child. Seeking a more compassionate response, the family turned to artificial intelligence chatbots.

They found that ChatGPT, an AI chatbot, was not judgmental and provided answers and peace of mind more readily than the guru. The ease and accessibility of AI were striking, especially when compared to the demanding schedules and high fees of human gurus. This trend is becoming more prevalent within Hinduism, where gurus play a central role in the spiritual journey towards moksha, liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and reincarnation.

The word 'guru' in Sanskrit means "dispeller of darkness." These AI chatbots utilize large language models, sophisticated AI systems that can generate responses based on vast amounts of text, including sacred texts like the Bhagavad Gita. Users can now access spiritual guidance and explore personal and existential questions at any time, without the usual obstacles of scheduling appointments with in-demand gurus or paying substantial fees.

The growing popularity of AI chatbots has even prompted some successful gurus to create their own, hoping to provide more immediate and empathetic support to those seeking spiritual enlightenment.