B737-800
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
Received and followed taxi instructions perfectly-we were not told to give way to any other aircraft. I believe somewhere in the vicinity of taxiway A18 and EE; we had to stop unexpectedly due to a plane taxiing from our left to our right at a fair speed. Had we not seen them prior to entering the intersection; there may have been a collision. The controller was overloaded and; after query; claimed that they had been stepped on while trying to contact us.Ground control in ORD is overloaded quite often and issues so many instructions without thoroughly clearing all conflicts at intersections. [They should] provide more ground controllers so that each sector can be more safely administered.
B737 Captain reported making a sudden stop during taxi to avoid collision with another aircraft.