Yoga instructor values ChatGPT’s availability and lack of judgment
When Kripa Vaidyanathan’s 27-year-old niece died in an Alaska car crash in 2024, Vaidyanathan said, her family in Chennai felt “shell-shocked.” The family had “immense faith in God,” Vaidyanathan said, and they questioned why the tragedy would befall them.
Vaidyanathan, a yoga instructor, helped her grieving sister arrange a meeting with a high-profile guru she hoped would offer comfort. Instead, the guru told her sister that the death was “the work of karma” and that she should use the opportunity “to connect with her inner nature.”
“I understand how karma works,” Vaidyanathan said. “But saying that was cruel and extremely unhelpful to someone who was freshly grieving the loss of a child.”
The response pushed the family toward artificial intelligence chatbots. Vaidyanathan said ChatGPT offered a different kind of counsel — one available on demand and without judgment.
“It was a lot easier trying to get answers and peace of mind because ChatGPT is not judging you,” Vaidyanathan said.
Vaidyanathan said the accessibility of AI tools also mattered. “We’ve found a compassionate guru now,” she said. “But even he only has limited time. AI is accessible anytime.”
The shift comes as some established religious figures have begun deploying their own chatbots to extend their reach, while spiritual seekers consult AI tools for guidance in matters of faith and grief.