I keep meaning to write a post about my experiences with ChatGPT-4, which I refer to as the “Twenty-First Century Delphic Oracle,” or just “the Oracle.” Those who know her well call her “Pythia” or “the Pythoness,” depending, I guess, on how they feel about her, where they’re from, or what language they speak.
(By the way, I’ve also tried other AI Oracles, like Gemini, with similar experiences to what I will talk about here.)
tl;dr version: I wouldn’t trust AI for actual legal work as far as I can spit Saturn.
A “Housekeeping” Note
I’m going to try something to significantly shorten this post for most readers. Because I will include some discussion of specific issues where you might not care about the details, I’ll use WordPress’s “accordion” blocks to include those. So you can easily skip over them if you want, or click on them to expand each section.
Without the accordions, this post is 1,416 words; with all the accordions, it hits 3,774. The WordPress prediction algorithm (driven by AI???) says it’s almost a 20-minute read if you read all the accordions. If you skip them, it’s about a 7-minute read.
There’s some meat hidden in those accordions, though. If you have the time, you’ll want to check them out.
The Ancient Oracle at Delphi
The Oracle at Delphi, one of ancient Greece’s most significant religious sites, was considered the voice of Apollo, the god of prophecy. Located on Mount Parnassus, the sanctuary featured Pythia, the high priestess who served as the oracle. Delphi’s origins date back to the 8th century BCE, and it remained influential for over a thousand years.
According to myth, Apollo killed the serpent Python, who originally guarded the site. He then established his oracle, with the priestess named the Pythia after Python. The Pythia entered trances, often induced by inhaling fumes from a chasm, to deliver cryptic messages. Priests interpreted these messages and relayed them to seekers.
Consultation involved elaborate rituals. Individuals and city-states sought the oracle’s guidance on personal dilemmas and state matters. The oracle’s prophecies were famously ambiguous, requiring careful interpretation. For example, when King Croesus of Lydia asked if he should attack Persia, the oracle replied he would destroy a great empire. This prophecy proved true when his own empire fell.
The reliability of the Oracle at Delphi is debated. Some ancient sources revered her insights, claiming her pronouncements were divinely inspired and accurate. Others pointed to the ambiguity and potential for misinterpretation, suggesting the oracle’s statements could fit any outcome. Accounts also indicate that political and financial influences sometimes swayed the oracle’s pronouncements, leading to skepticism about her reliability.
Despite criticisms, the Oracle at Delphi remained central in Greek culture. She embodied the intersection of religion, politics, and social life in the ancient world. The site, now an important archaeological location, continues to attract interest for its historical and cultural significance.
Twenty-First Century Delphic Oracle
By the time you reach the end of this post, you’ll understand why I refer to ChatGPT-4 and other artificial intelligence “chatbots,”
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