I was online searching astrology and AI when I ran across the newest version of an astrology vending machine. My first thought was this looks more like an industrial dryer than a high-tech 21st-century astrology vending machine.
Of course, horoscope vending machines have been around for years… but they certainly looked more astrologically friendly than mechanical and industrial.
The Astrology App Boom
The world is experiencing an astrology app boom. These apps could be considered the vanguard of astrology for the masses. The best example is Co-Star, which ranks among the top 40 lifestyle apps in the US. Co-Star has now introduced a horoscope vending machine. The machine first appeared in Manhattan’s Iconic Magazines in April and has since moved to LA. According to The New York Times, Co-Star uses AI to generate readings.
“FKB collaborated with Co-Star to install a horoscope vending machine at the renowned Iconic Magazines store in downtown Manhattan. The machine is a physical manifestation of the app’s latest feature, which enables users to ask questions to the stars and instantly receive an answer based on their natal chart and the real-time movements of the planets.”
Note: The users don’t ask personal questions. They select from about a hundred questions related to self, love, expression, social, and work.
News about the Co-Star vending machine went viral, and people lined up on the sidewalk to get into the Manhattan bookstore. You can read more about just how popular the Co-Star astrology vending machine debut was at this link. Note: Make sure to watch the TicTok video on the side of this article.
Can AI Replace the Astrologer?
It’s natural to wonder whether AI has the potential to take the place of professional astrologers in the future. AI is certain to replace astrologers (and pseudo-astrologers) who write generic sun sign columns and those who write general astrology cookbook-style articles. Still, it could also serve as a valuable assistant to astrological professionals. The notion of complete replacement seems unlikely in the foreseeable future. However, it also seems important that astrologers learn how to use and harness AI for their benefit.
Check out this discussion on astrologer Chris Brennan’s astrology podcasts. Astrology and the Emergence of Artificial Intelligence
The Limitations of an AI Reading
As it stands now, AI can replicate the role of human intellect but falls short of going beyond that stage. AI can effectively analyze horoscopes and generate insights based on general basic interpretations of the sun, moon, planets, aspects, houses, and transits. Still, AI can’t (as yet) synthesize a horoscope within the context of an individual’s life, which limits its ability to give personally meaningful readings.
The Limitations of an Astrological Birth Chart
Astrology is an amazing tool that lends itself to innumerable uses. However, when a horoscope is a human individual’s birth chart, it has limitations. It is not the “end all” of what a person is or what will happen to them. Although there are exact principles in operation, how they are expressed and the experiences they bring will vary. Even twins born just a few minutes apart live their lives differently.
On one hand, a horoscope does tell an astrologer specific things about a person, but on the other, it does not tell the astrologer anything specific about the person’s life.
An individual’s birth chart is user-dependent, and the astrological symbolism is most effective when the individual’s life is superimposed upon the general statements revealed in the chart. Without the person and their life, a horoscope could just as easily be that of a dog… an organization… a nation, or simply a moment in time.
Additionally, the principles of astrology act differently in different environments. An individual’s horoscope shows only general themes concerning the environment, socio-economic level, familial surroundings, or culture. Yet, all of these things have a profound effect on the life an individual lives.
An individual’s birth chart will not tell you if the person is male or female, black, Asian or Caucasian, the youngest person in a large family, or an only child. Yet, gender, individual parents, family, heritage, culture, religion, economic status, and evolutionary state create experiences that weigh heavily on how the symbolism in their horoscope is expressed.
To live is to experience. As we develop from infancy to adulthood, an individual’s experiences are interwoven into the horoscope…fleshing it out and filling it in with color. As humans, we require this interweaving to become who we become; thus, we relate as much to our individual circumstances as to our individual horoscopes.
Nature and Nurture
Out of these dual realities… nature and nurture… a unique person develops. Yet, regardless of gender, environment, culture, spiritual awareness, or destiny, there will always be meaningful links to the individual’s horoscope.
The Art of Astrology
When an astrologer and client converse, connect, and open to one another, the person’s horoscope comes alive. Once given a face, voice, body, and personal history, the birth chart takes on color and dances before a professional astrologer’s eyes.
Through an astrologer’s informed interpretation of this symbolism, awareness and understanding of the “What, When, Where, and Whys” of a person’s life is gained.
The Practice of Astrology is Ever-Evolving
Astrology has a very long history, and the practice of astrology is ever-evolving. It was in 1977 that Michael Erlewine transformed the lives of astrologers when he applied computer technology to astrological measurements and programmed astrology on microcomputers. He founded Matrix Software a year later, making the first modular astrology programs available to professional astrologers.
Astrologers joyfully embraced computers during the late 80s and 90s, and soon, every astrologer had learned to use a computer and had an astrological program to speed up their work. If astrologers can embrace AI, the convergence could be even more transformative for astrologers than computers and astrological programs.
“In this journey of confluence, we collectively forge a path toward a future where AI empowers both learners and practitioners of astrology. By embracing this alliance, we step into a realm of enriched understanding, rapid insights, and boundless opportunities. As we embark on this collaborative expedition, let us collectively build a world that nurtures the growth and evolution of Astrology, unfolding its hidden depths with the aid of AI. Together, let’s shape a future that embraces tradition while embracing the innovations of today – a future where AI is not just a tool but a partner in the timeless voyage of astrological exploration.” ~ Innovative Astro Solutions, AI Meets Astrology