The Rise of AI Fortune-Telling in China
An AI BaZi Frenzy
Zhang exhaled. She had recently quit her stable job as a product manager at a major tech company to start her own business, and she now felt validated. For years, she turned to traditional Chinese fortune tellers before major life decisions, seeking guidance and clarity for up to 500 RMB (about $70) per session. But now, she asks DeepSeek.
"I began to speak to DeepSeek as if it’s an oracle," Zhang says, explaining that it can support her spirituality and also act as a convenient alternative to psychotherapy, which is still stigmatized and largely inaccessible in China. "It has become my go-to when I feel overwhelmed by thoughts and emotions."
The Growing Popularity of AI Fortune-Telling
Zhang is not alone. As DeepSeek has emerged as a homegrown challenger to OpenAI, young people across the country have started using AI to revive fortune-telling practices that have deep roots in Chinese culture. Over 2 million posts in February alone have mentioned "DeepSeek fortune-telling" on WeChat, China’s biggest social platform, according to WeChat Index, a tool the company released to monitor its trending keywords. Across Chinese social media, users are sharing AI-generated readings, experimenting with fortune-telling prompt engineering, and revisiting ancient spiritual texts—all with the help of DeepSeek.
A Time of Uncertainty and Pessimism
The surge in DeepSeek fortune-telling comes during a time of pervasive anxiety and pessimism in Chinese society. Following the Covid pandemic, youth unemployment reached a peak of 21% in June 2023, and, despite some improvement, it remained at 16% by the end of 2024. The GDP growth rate in 2024 was also among the slowest in decades. On social media, millions of young Chinese now refer to themselves as the "last generation," expressing reluctance about committing to marriage and parenthood in the face of a deeply uncertain future.
The Attraction of Spirituality
"At a time of economic stagnation and low employment rate, [spirituality] practices create an illusion of control and provide solace," says Ting Guo, an assistant professor in religious studies at Hong Kong Chinese University.
Conclusion
The rise of AI fortune-telling in China is a reflection of the growing desire for control and solace in a time of uncertainty. As DeepSeek continues to gain popularity, it will be interesting to see how it evolves and adapts to the needs of its users.
FAQs
- What is DeepSeek?
DeepSeek is an AI-powered fortune-telling platform that uses natural language processing to generate readings based on user input. - What is BaZi?
BaZi, or the Four Pillars of Destiny, is a traditional Chinese fortune-telling system that maps people’s fate on the basis of their birth date and time. - Is AI fortune-telling popular in China?
Yes, AI fortune-telling is gaining popularity in China, with over 2 million posts mentioning "DeepSeek fortune-telling" on WeChat in February alone.
