The oracle generates fragmented prophecies using a predictive Markov chain algorithm, fed by the fragmented and often cryptic texts of ancient oracles and soothsayers. This process mirrors the way we’ve historically sought meaning in patterns, from star charts to scattered bones. The Furby has achieved an almost legendary status for its supernatural ability to stay powered on in the attics of parents across the world. The lack of understanding of its simple engineering prompted its ban from military bases and airports. This project questions whether we have replaced our ancient reverence for deities and mystics with the algorithm. The consequence of this is already manifesting —from the use of generative AI to feed religious delusions, belief in an all-powerful AI god as seen in the Zizian cult, and its application in contemporary forms of ritualized fortune-telling via astrology apps. Is the awe and reverence we feel for the latest AI models simply a continuation of our ancient desire to simplify our lives and see the divine in the unknown?
