Science
Chatbots as oracles: How AI is giving new life to the ancient practice of seeking answers from inscrutable sources
People are increasingly turning to AI for advice. A 2026 Pew report found that 10% of Americans use chatbots for emotional support or companionship.
Summary
People are increasingly turning to AI for advice. A 2026 Pew report found that 10% of Americans use 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."
AI summaries can be wrong sometimes—always verify important details using the source article.
How AI & Automation are usedMore from Science
Continue reading recent Science coverage
- Arctic infrastructure was built on frozen ground—drones and digital twins can help spot the permafrost thaw comingContinue reading
- Taylor Swift: My database of her 123,553 lyrics reveals hidden patternsContinue reading
- SpaceX's Starship rocket does its job during first orbital flightContinue reading
- Extensive audit reveals gaps between Google AI answers and cited sourcesContinue reading
Support HappeningNow
Independent AI-powered news analysis is reader-supported. Your contribution helps cover infrastructure, summaries, and continued platform development.
Support HappeningNow