AI Gurus and the Illusion of Enlightenment

The Conspirituality Podcast is created by four people with years of experience and research into the dynamics of cults, therapy, psychological manipulation and AI technology. Matthew Remski, Derek Beres, Julian Walker, and Mallory DeMille.

The Conspirituality Podcast has thus far explored a range of related topics relevant to our current political situation: MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) and RFK Jr., conspiracy theories around vaccines and viruses, health & medicine regulations, alternative medicines and therapies, health & wellness grifters, cults, authoritarianism, gurus and new age spirituality.

I recommend the podcast for those reasons, although I also caution that sometimes the researchers go a bit too far in their critique in what almost becomes a conspiracy theory of its own. However, the research and analysis that they present related to spirituality and conspiracy theories (thus, “con-spirituality) are insightful and rarely heard in public media.

Episode 257: AI Gurus, is a fascinating look into the use of AI chatbots (Chat GPT) as a kind of LLM-automated spiritual guru, its effects on the user, their close relationships and on society as a whole. Although many of the podcasts episodes are behind a paywall, this episode is free for its full length.

“According to a stunning new article in Rolling Stone, it will find whatever the fuck makes you feel like a god—incuding all the NewAge pablum it has scarfed down—because oops, ChatGPT released a model that is just too sycophantic.
But as we break down today, the AI nonsensient flattery machine is designed to hook you into the regurgitative process of self-seduction. Is this a new spiritual delusion, or more of the same? And what does that kind and agreeable bot conceal?”

Some of the research and analysis they reference are as follows: 

People Are Losing Loved Ones to AI-Fueled Spiritual Fantasies
Chatgpt induced psychosis
ChatGPT And Generative AI Innovations Are Creating Sustainability Havoc 
LLM Can Be A Dangerous Persuader

This article is a continuation of my Buddhist Futures series, focused now on cybernetic culture and how to use secular Buddhism to survive in the 21st century .