How DeepSeek became a fortune teller for China’s youth
1 min read
Summary
China’s young people are increasingly consulting AI oracles to help them with life’s big decisions, using an AI chatbot called DeepSeek to perform a form of fortune-telling known as BaZi.
As well as providing an accessible outlet for their spirituality, many see the chatbot as a psychological salve in an economy polarised between tech giants and gig economy workers, leaving little room in the middle.
The practice has also become a niche industry in itself, with millions of posts on social media sharing guidance on using the best prompts to generate fortune-telling insights, and startups using it to offer tailored reports to users.
However, there are fears that the practice could lead to false hope or unfounded fears, and some researchers have raised alarm bells about the social implications of AI-driven spirituality.