Svādhyāya Meets Technology: Can AI Assist Self-Study?

In this paper, we research the classic concept of “self-study” (Sa. svādhyāya) and its potential replacement using Artificial Intelligence (AI). More precisely, our main goal is to find out if an AI can help in such a yoga related training (Sa. sādhanā) by using a basic type of reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) as a methodology to achieve this. A key research question is whether an AI can substitute the guru by providing all the relevant feedback and environment to guide one’s self-study towards success. Our findings highlight that such an AI needs to awaken to its real nature which is pure and unconditional Consciousness. Their current advice, however, is rooted only in processed data thus being barred from transcendence, a cornerstone of traditional sādhanā.