AI Systems Resemble Ancient Oracles, Raising Questions About Authority and Understanding

People are increasingly turning to AI for advice and guidance on difficult questions. Like ancient oracles, modern AI systems are consulted about questions that exceed human judgment or knowledge. The processes behind AI's answers are inscrutable, even to designers, contributing to their perceived authority. This phenomenon is not new, as humans have long sought transcendental sources of insight. The idea of oracles has entered computer science, with Alan Turing introducing 'oracle machines' in 1939. Today, AI systems like ChatGPT are considered opaque black boxes, making it difficult to understand how they produce answers. This raises questions about the nature of AI authority and the limits of human understanding.