By The West Australian
Publication Date: 2026-02-04 17:03:00
Who do you contact if you need advice? Lately, most people I know have been bowing their heads in front of their screens.
The loudest debates about artificial intelligence continue to revolve around productivity and economic growth. However, a Harvard Business Review study last year found that generative AI is used primarily for human purposes: for therapy/companionship, for organizing life, and for finding meaning. Machines are quietly slipping into roles once filled by friends, elders, counselors, pastors — and for some, even prayer.
It may sound absurd to believers and unbelievers alike. But it fills a very human need in an increasingly uncertain world. In China, DeepSeek has become the fortune teller of choice. Platforms like GitaGPT, based on the Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita, have become popular across India. An “AI Jesus” on the streaming platform Twitch has more than 85,000 followers. And don’t even get me started on the various pseudo-religious AI worships that have taken hold in Silicon Valley since…
