At this year’s Hulaween, a pop-up “Oracle” — a faux AI oracle intended to poke fun at tech anxieties — left plenty of festivalgoers underwhelmed, according to a local report and a flurry of online reactions.
Tristan Wood of WFSU Public Media wrote about the installation and its intentions; the piece explores how the Oracle aimed to lampoon AI while serving as a performing-art experience for attendees. You can read Wood’s full report here: https://news.wfsu.org/wfsu-local-news/2025-11-24/faux-oracle-art-installation-pokes-fun-at-ai-amid-worries-about-the-tech
But on the ground — and online — responses were mixed to negative. Many festival-goers called out the execution: complaints centered on a robotic, grating voice, answers that felt vague or dismissive, and the piece’s potential to unsettle people who were under the influence. Several took issue with the Oracle’s handling of big questions — including religion and culture — saying it came off flippant rather than thoughtful.
Other attendees and commenters were more forgiving, praising the idea even if the delivery missed for them. The reporter behind the story says a feature video about Hulaween will be released next week, which should offer more context and footage of the installation.
Bottom line: clever concept, divisive execution. For a festival that trades on atmosphere and deep, personal experiences, the Oracle became this year’s reminder that satire and immersive art can land very differently depending on the audience and the setting.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/hulaween/comments/1p7hbd4/story_i_did_about_the_oracle/