AI can now predict your future too

Bengaluru: Astrology in India is no longer just written in the stars; it's coded in algorithms. AI is rapidly reshaping the country's online astrology market, but platforms are divided on how far to let automation go.Some platforms, like Astroyogi and InstaAstro, are using AI in the first layer of customer interactions or as a behind-the-scenes assistant to improve efficiency, sharpen tone, sensitise responses and match users to an expert. Others, like AstroSage, have gone all in, deploying AI astrologers that can juggle thousands of clients simultaneously, raking in revenues at a much faster clip.Take Mr Krishnamurti, an AI astrologer with 765,000-plus followers, one of the biggest draws on the AstroSage app. The "31-year veteran", a "distinguished authority on KP astrology", has handled up to 1,000 clients at once. He's one of the 25 AI astrologers on AstroSage, giving thousands of human practitioners a run for their money. 126109290Punit Pandey, founder of AstroSageAi, says their AI revenue has been growing 20% month-on-month. It already accounts for 25% of their overall business, in just about 16 months since its launch in August 2024. Their AI astrologers leverage large language models (LLM) and Avatar technology, besides which the company has fine-tuned its own tech models to bring in conversational capabilities. "We have AI astrologers specialising in startup and VC funding, legal, love etc and those following different schools of astrology including Vedic, Lal Kitab, Western. A single AI astrologer can take umpteen calls and chats simultaneously. From the business perspective, it makes more sense," says Pandey.So far, AI astrologer ratings have also been better than their human counterparts, he says.AI leveragedOther platforms too are actively using artificial intelligence, but more as an assistive tool. Emotional nuance and human connection remain irreplaceable, they say. Nitin Verma, founder & CEO of InstaAstro, says while they use AI to improve customer engagement, they don't charge for AI-powered astrology. "We feel the human connection is important; an astrologer needs to understand the intricacies of a person's life situation."However, InstaAstro equips astrologers with AI tools to be more efficient. This includes giving them access to deeper domain knowledge or helping sensitise astrologers' responses to clients. "It happens in real time-there could be prompts asking astrologers to soften their tone, or to come to the point, if s/he has deviated from the client's original query."Going forward, InstaAstro is also looking to deploy AI tools to open up options. So, for instance, a Hindi-speaking astrologer will be able to converse in other languages; or connect culturally with clients in different countries.Some like Astroyogi are using AI as the first-touch. Earlier this year, the online astrology platform conducted a survey, where about 10% of respondents said they would be comfortable accepting AI as a solution-giver to their problems. Acting on this feedback, about two months ago, Astroyogi rolled out a pilot where AI is being used as a first layer in the consultation process to handle entry-level queries. Based on that, the client is matched to the correct human expert."We are still building it; only about 5% of our client base has been exposed to it so far," says Aditya Verma, chief growth officer at Astroyogi. Early indications show a positive trend, and it results in more astrologers, beyond the top 30-35%, getting more business, he says.