Gurus are rolling out chatbots as people turn to AI for spiritual guidance. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
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 who 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's 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."
This unfettered access — which can be challenging to fin — is prompting a new wave of gurus and spiritual teachers to launch AI chatbots. They allow followers to access their teachings while leveraging AI's impartiality and availability.
At an exhibition in Los Angeles on Aug. 19, 2026, a lifelike Sadhguru chatbot powered by artificial intelligence was displayed. These devices enable people to get answers to spiritual questions.
Shivaram K R, CEO of Hue Learn in Bengaluru, India, notes that this trend is growing. According to him, AI technologies help spiritual mentors reach a wider audience.
However, some critics point out the limitations of AI as a spiritual guide. They argue that artificial intelligence cannot replace human empathy and deep understanding.
In its article, Associated Press analyzes the reasons behind gurus' turn to AI and its impact on followers. The article cites Vaidyanathan's family experience as an example.
While AI chatbots are opening new possibilities in the spiritual realm, the role of traditional gurus remains significant. Many people use AI as a supplementary resource while continuing to seek human mentors for deeper spiritual experiences.