AI – a modern day ORACLE

GBS PAPERs

I can’t let you go

written by subalekha

issue 1 feb 2024

oracle comes from the Latin verb ōrāre, "to speak". In ancient Greece, an oracle was a person through whom a god is believed to speak.

The deep sorrow carried during a moment of grief can be all encompassing. It brings up moments of shared joy, guilt for the time unspent, among many many others. data-driven oracles are here to guide us through these moments of pain. are we ready?

Image Credit: Wikimedia

Our ancestors held onto photographs, letters, locks of hair to recall the ones they have lost. Around the world, people have gathered to honor their memories in special ceremonies such as the Day of the Dead and Qingming festival in China. Engaging with the ones who we have lost has been a passive experience until the age of AI, we are able to animate them with minimal data such as past photographs, videos and now with their consent, gathering their data while they are still alive.
Slowly but surely generative AI is being tasked with keeping the memories of the ones passed active in the form of real time conversations based on pre-fed data about their lives. Our AI chatbots are becoming the interface that answers our contemplations, “I wonder what grandma would say”, “I wish Alan could guide me..”

I need your company.

As we struggle more with building and maintaining social and intimate relationships, the loss of a loved one we have invested time with either through familial bonds or through shared experiences is palpable. As phones have become the interface through which we conduct most of our communications, it does help to know the ones you care about are still somewhat “around”.

I need your counsel.

People who pass on generally are elders to us who may have offered a source of counseling and guidance during moments of hardships. Being able to access values and deeper wisdom fed as data based on their own experiences does allow for people to feel a sense of light in moments of darkness they may face decades after.

As winter paves way for the summer, the leaves that fall away allow for new ones to spring out. The nature of birth and death, the grief involved in the acceptance of it prepares a healthy emotional existence and opens one to be available to new relationships where we offer the space to connect and weave new memories into the fabric of life.

Three potential dangers to be aware of and addressed for healthier co-existence with these newer oracular AIs are discussed below.

Lack of emotional Guidance while navigating Loss.

prolonging healing and Insulation from Pain

false feeding a Sense of Control

Guidance while navigating Loss.

As applications and platforms are developed to address the creation process of interfaces on “how to talk”, it is important to ensure they are balancing it with sufficient mental health support for their users who are essentially not only processing heavy emotions through their interactions but also possibly suppressing certain essential steps necessary to find wholesome healing. It is essential that the experience is supplemented with education surrounding mental health and adequate hand holding.

Insulation from Pain.

In the mammal kingdom, animals have been observed expressing grief and experiencing the pain surrounding it. Still in the Southern part of India, women ululate and physically exert the pain out of their bodies. Feeling, expressing and accepting pain is essential for a healthy moving on process. When we turn to applications to subvert that process instead of supporting a healthy healing, we have to be aware that short term comfort in such a form has the potential to lead to long term negative effects.

Sense of Control.

Romancing the past can sabotage real world relationships that are current and the ones yet to develop. Although being able to connect with someone who is no more offers a sense of control, it is important to recognize that a false sense of control is in fact destabilizing.


In ancient egypt, the"ankh" symbol was often used in amulets and scepters to signify life. It is believed that Gods held the ankh under the nose of the kings to resurrect them in the afterlife.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

The love and connection we yearn to experience after someone’s passing is for us and us alone. It is an individual experience.

How can we ensure that we are balancing the joy of keeping a MeMORY alive and the pain of becoming a prisoner to our own nostalgia.

How can we engage the oracle to build on the memories, draw the strength needed to make peace and also find the hope needed to open ourselves to create newer bonds.

As the world still is abundant with new life waiting to be experienced. can we allow ourselves to heal?

AI – a modern day सोम

issue 1 feb 2024

Issue 1

Exploring the intersection of AI, Culture, Patterns & Possibilities across all disciplines.

AI – a modern day सोम

AI – A MODERN DAY ORACLE

I can’t let you go

AI – A MODERN DAY Πρωτεύς