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The Conversation
The Conversation
Webb Keane, George Herbert Mead Distinguished University Professor of Anthropology, University of Michigan

Chatbots as oracles: How AI is giving new life to the ancient practice of seeking answers from inscrutable sources

Pew Anthropic Claude
People are turning to AI with life’s difficult questions and to glimpse into the future. Yuichiro Chino/Moment via Getty Images

People are increasingly turning to AI for advice. A 2026 Pew report found that 10% of Americans are using chatbots for emotional support or companionship. Some even find a charismatic leader in AI.

More broadly, a large-scale study of 1.1 million ChatGPT conversations found that 49% of the messages involved users seeking “information or advice” to help them be “better informed or make better decisions.”

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