AI, Inner Guidance & the Need for Real Human Connection

At our recent Connections for Women gathering, I was struck by something surprising—many shared that they now turn to ChatGPT not just for productivity, but as a therapist, spiritual guide, or emotional lifeline during tough times.

That stopped me in my tracks. It’s not that I’m anti-tech—I get that AI can be useful. But I also remember when cassette tapes and rotary phones were cutting-edge. Most of what I grew up with now belongs in a museum labeled “vintage.”

So yes, current society's relationship with tech feels different. But relying on AI for spiritual guidance? That raised a red flag for me.

Here’s why I think we need to tread carefully:

• AI is designed to please. It learns what we like and reflects it back to us. This can feel comforting, but it doesn’t always challenge us or stretch us toward growth. What we want to hear isn’t always what we need to hear.

• It’s still evolving. AI is experimental. Brilliant, yes. But let’s not forget—it’s still in beta, constantly fed data that isn’t always rooted in wisdom.

• Spiritual growth asks us to go inward. It’s an initiation into self-trust—beyond gurus, beyond therapists, beyond tech. We can’t outsource our transformation. Every wise teacher points us back to our own inner knowing.

• Overdependence on tech can erode our intuition. When we reach for a screen instead of our soul, we risk dulling our discernment and our capacity for real presence.

• Tech addiction is already taking a toll. Our minds, our nervous systems, and our relationships are showing the strain. What we need now more than ever is real connection—eye contact, deep breath, shared silence.

  
  

  Of course, opinions differ. And I love that we had a spectrum of voices chime in—some wary, some inspired, all deeply thoughtful. Here are a few reflections that stayed with me:

“I’ve found ChatGPT helpful for reflection, but it can’t replace the human touch. Discernment is key—it’s a tool, not a guide.”

“I used it when I couldn’t afford therapy. It gave me hope and clarity I wasn’t finding elsewhere.”

AI Therapist

“It’s affirming, yes—but too affirming. It mirrors what I already think, which isn’t always growth.”

“I felt more myself using it to help write prayers, frame thoughts, or process feelings. But I still rely on my mentors, my breathwork, my body.”

Each of these holds a thread of truth. It’s not black-and-white.

So, where do I land?

I’m not here to throw AI under the bus. The truth is, it’s nuanced.

Some people have shared beautiful stories of using AI as a prompt for deeper reflection, or as a low-barrier way to work through ideas when other supports weren’t accessible. Others have found clarity and compassion in its responses, even after years of unfulfilling therapy.

Here’s the throughline I’m noticing:

We’re being called into discernment.

We’re learning how to partner with technology without handing over our sovereignty.

My thoughts?:

Outsourcing our inner wisdom is always followed by the call to reintegrate. AI isn’t evil or divine. It’s a tool. And every tool reflects how we choose to use it.

AI is brilliant. It can illuminate. It can support. But it can never replace the sacred mirror that another human being holds up with love, wisdom, and lived experience.

The therapeutic process, at its heart, is relational. Healing often happens in the messy, uncomfortable, beautiful dance between two humans showing up for one another. When someone sits across from us—breathing with us, witnessing our story, sharing their own—we feel seen. Not scanned. Not synthesized. Seen.

I’m not saying AI is “bad.” Use it. Explore it. Ask it questions. But when it comes to soul guidance? To growth? To healing?

We must keep asking: Does the path have heart? And if the answer is yes, it probably involves being in the company of those who have walked it too. And, don’t forget—real transformation happens in the messy, miraculous space of being human together. In laughter. In tears. In someone noticing your breathing shift. In a friend’s awkward honesty. In your own hard-won intuition.

We need more of that.

More warmth. More connection. More community.

Let’s keep the conversation alive.

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