AI Fortune-Telling in China: Decoding Destiny for the Digital Generation

Okay, folks, buckle up, because we’re diving deep into a trend that’s absolutely blowing up in China right now, and trust me, it’s a wild ride. Forget your traditional tea leaves and fortune cookies – we’re talking about AI fortune-telling! Yes, you heard that right. In 2025, Chinese Gen Z and Millennials are turning to artificial intelligence to get a peek into their futures, and it’s way more than just a quirky online fad. It’s becoming a serious cultural phenomenon, blurring the lines between technology, tradition, and well, maybe a little bit of superstition.

Coming to you live from Beijing, your friendly neighborhood American expat, ready to unpack this fascinating slice of Chinese social life that’s probably unlike anything you’ve encountered back home. For those of you who haven’t set foot in the Middle Kingdom, let me tell you, China is a land of incredible contrasts. It’s a place where ancient traditions meet cutting-edge technology in the most unexpected ways. And this AI fortune-telling craze? It’s a perfect example.

Let’s start with a little anecdote that perfectly encapsulates what’s going on. Imagine a family dinner, Chinese New Year vibes still lingering in the air – that’s Spring Festival to you and me – and the adults are buzzing about using this thing called “DeepSeek” to get their fortunes told. Now, picture a curious fifth-grader, a kid named Lin朵, listening in, eyes wide. She’s vaguely aware of what “fortune-telling” might be, but “DeepSeek”? That’s a whole other level of mysterious. So, naturally, she grabs her dad’s phone and, with the earnestness only a child can muster, types into this app with a whale logo: “Hello, please predict my score on my next exam.”

Now, you might expect some kind of mystical, numerical prediction, right? Nope. Instead, DeepSeek, this AI oracle, shoots back a surprisingly practical response: “Predicting exam scores requires considering your study habits, revision efficiency, and knowledge mastery, information I currently lack. However, I can offer some scientific study tips.” What follows is a list of solid, study advice – think “efficient planning,” “Pomodoro Technique,” and “Feynman Learning Method.”

Lin朵’s reaction? Disappointment. No magical number, no easy answers. Her dad, bless his heart, starts to mansplain about crafting the perfect “prompt” – that’s internet speak for the instructions you give to AI – but is quickly shut down by the rest of the family. Meanwhile, Lin朵’s mom? She’s thrilled, actually finding value in the AI’s very un-mystical, very practical advice.

This isn’t some made-up story, folks. I witnessed this firsthand. And it highlights something crucial: this AI fortune-telling trend isn’t just about getting a sneak peek into the future. It’s tapping into something much deeper in the young Chinese psyche.

So, how did we get here? Well, let’s rewind a bit. “玄学”, or “metaphysics,” “mysticism,” or even “the occult,” has become a buzzword in China, particularly in early 2025. During the Spring Festival, hashtags like #DeepSeek Fortune-telling# went viral, with young people excitedly sharing their AI-generated “destiny readings.” Even celebrities are jumping on the bandwagon, hawking “healing crystals” via livestream, racking up impressive sales figures. One crystal vendor, according to a report by 娱乐独角兽 (Yúlè Dújiǎoshòu), or Entertainment Unicorn, told a Chinese media outlet that aquamarine was sold out for a week straight, with supplies snatched up by other sellers in a booming jewelry market. And get this, for a brief, bizarre moment, e-commerce platforms were even selling “Five Great Banks Soil” – yes, dirt from around major banks – as a “feng shui” item for attracting wealth, before it was swiftly taken down across the internet.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this kind of trend. Remember the “electronic wooden fish” and “prayer bead bracelets” that went viral? Young people were all about accumulating “electronic merit” – a sort of tongue-in-cheek, digital form of spiritual practice. Now, this “mystical” wave is back, and it’s intertwined with the latest tech craze: AI.

Those “pretty stones” – crystals like amethyst, citrine, and rose quartz – they’re not new to the market. But they’ve been rebranded, repackaged, and now they’re hitting the mainstream with a vengeance, fueled by the resurgence of interest in traditional Chinese culture and metaphysics in recent years. And let me tell you, their ability to move merchandise is no joke.

Celebrity Endorsements and the Crystal “Gold Rush”

Crystals, especially those marketed with “healing properties,” have become the ultimate “treat-yourself” item for young Chinese consumers. Starting last year, a wave of Chinese celebrities – names like Xu Yiyang, Annie Yi Nengjing, Yu Zheng, Ady An, and Dong Jie – jumped into the crystal game. They’re not just wearing them; they’re selling them, leading livestreaming sessions dedicated to crystal sales. We’re talking about crystals priced from a few dollars to thousands, with high-end pieces sometimes selling millions of yuan worth in a single livestream.

Reports indicate that Annie Yi sold a crystal “energy array” priced at a whopping 6,998 yuan (around $1,000 USD) in one livestream, generating 2.66 million yuan in sales for that single product. Yu Zheng, another celebrity, moved a 58,000 yuan crystal pendant, with his entire crystal livestream raking in over 5 million yuan. Xu Yiyang offers a range of crystal bracelets from 68 yuan to 3,889 yuan.

What’s the appeal? Well, it’s the “healing” aspect. Crystal healing is marketed as a cure-all for everything from physical health to emotional well-being and spiritual growth. The idea is that humans have seven “chakras,” each linked to a color and body part, and different colored crystals have different “energies” and benefits.

The target demographic? Women aged 18 to 35. They’re generally more focused on mental health, emotional management, and self-improvement. If you believe that crystals can regulate emotions, boost confidence, attract good luck, and relieve stress, you’re more likely to buy into this, both literally and figuratively.

Celebrity endorsements play a huge role, but it’s the “healing” narrative that really resonates with young people’s anxieties and desires. In December 2024, Xu Yiyang’s “Crystal Rendezvous” livestream sold crystal bracelets ranging from 68 to 3,889 yuan. Data from 新抖, a social media data analytics platform, showed 14.02 million viewers tuned in, gaining her over 520,000 new followers and generating sales between 1 million and 2.5 million yuan. Even the pricier items, beyond the standard pink and amethyst crystals, were almost completely sold out.

Annie Yi, in her livestreams, explains the “energy” of healing crystals, emphasizing it’s “not metaphysics” but “the light crystallized from the Earth.” She claims, “Humans exist in a vast magnetic field, including energy, frequency, and vibration – quantum physics explains this clearly. Crystals can resonate with us through their mineral energy.” This pseudo-scientific explanation, combined with the promise of “good luck” in love and career, is catnip for young female fans.

Crystals have long been symbols of “magical power” in traditional Chinese culture. And with modern life becoming increasingly stressful, young people are feeling a greater need for these “mystical” products. In livestreaming environments, fueled by emotional narratives, these crystals are no longer just pretty accessories. They’re transformed into talismans, “lucky charms” symbolizing good fortune, strength, and a brighter future.

This “good luck” factor drives up prices. Popular crystals like citrine are skyrocketing in value, while aquamarine is constantly out of stock. White crystal, being more common, is relatively cheaper. Celebrity influence amplifies this market heat. But alongside the high-end celebrity-driven livestreams, there’s also a thriving low-price crystal market.

娱乐独角兽 observed that some crystal vendors have turned livestreaming into an “auction” format. No product listings in the shopping cart, just payment links. Crystal bracelets go for 10 to 200 yuan. The streamer rapidly showcases items, measures diameters, points out internal flaws, all while chanting sales pitches: “This white crystal, for wealth and career, 108 yuan!” “Brazilian lemon citrine, few cracks, no black spots, perfect size, usually 100-200 yuan, today 45 yuan!” “Untreated natural green phantom quartz, full of stars, full of landscapes, treated ones aren’t this price!”

Many are unique pieces, requiring buyers to be quick to “grab” them in the livestream. “First come, first served!” The streamer repeatedly claims these crystals are imported, as China doesn’t produce much. Buyers are familiar with crystal jargon – “treated,” “landscape,” “size,” “few cracks.” In this fast-paced buying frenzy, sales numbers keep climbing. One vendor reported nearly 16,000 purchases in a month.

DeepSeek: AI Fortune-telling as a “Cyber-Entrepreneurial” Guide?

Celebrity crystal endorsements have sparked young people’s interest in “metaphysics.” But beyond expensive crystals, AI fortune-telling, especially via DeepSeek, has become a viral sensation, a hot topic among young people. During the 2025 Spring Festival, DeepSeek became a household name, leading to a surge in AI fortune-telling templates and services like 豆包 fortune-telling.

Social media is flooded with “universal templates.” Users input their birth date, time, and location, and within seconds, get their 八字 – Eight Characters, a traditional Chinese astrology system – analyzed, along with career and relationship compatibility, even past lives. People are sharing their readings, finding “accuracy” in the AI’s analysis by matching it to birthmarks, eczema, headaches, and leveraging the “Barnum effect” – the tendency to accept vague and general personality descriptions as uniquely applicable to oneself.

Some users share humorous “solutions” from AI fortune-telling software, like wearing red underwear in the sun at noon to ward off bad luck. More for laughs than actual belief, of course. But whether for novelty or amusement, more and more young people are using tech to “decode destiny” and “predict the future.”

Faced with uncertainty in careers, relationships, and health, or just general confusion and anxiety about the future, AI fortune-telling offers a seemingly “scientific” and fun way to seek answers. Spring Festival isn’t just for family reunions; it’s also a time for young people to reflect, plan, and contemplate the new year. AI fortune-telling, during downtime at gatherings, becomes a way to find emotional comfort and even a social icebreaker.

But AI fortune-telling isn’t just entertainment. Entertainment Unicorn noticed social media accounts combining AI fortune-telling tools with market research and consumer behavior analysis, creating “AI Xuanxue Marketing.” One Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book, a popular social media platform) account shared, “Since adding crystal healing customization, store sales have skyrocketed.”

Some entrepreneurs are sharing crystal business tips, using AI for marketing advice and scripts, and “feeding” these to followers. “Enter this template into DeepSeek: ‘I want a Xiaohongshu product recommendation post for crystal bracelets. The bracelet uses gold rutilated quartz, yellow citrine, and white crystal. Describe its effects and symbolism, and analyze suitable target audiences, keeping in mind community guidelines.’”

While the future is ultimately shaped by present actions, the rise of AI fortune-telling tools like DeepSeek is inspiring young people to find entrepreneurial ideas and future directions in “mystical” products like healing crystals and bracelets. From celebrity endorsements to AI fortune-telling and “mystical” entrepreneurship, young Chinese are writing their future in an increasingly “cyber” way.

“Cyber Metaphysics” and the Lottery Dream

Let’s shift gears slightly but stay in this “cyber-mystical” realm. Another article from 钛媒体 (TMTPost), a tech news website, dives into the “get-rich-quick” angle. The headline screams, “Able to Buy Lottery Tickets, Able to Tell Fortunes, Deepseek Stages ‘Cyber Metaphysics’ to Attract Wealth.” The excerpt? “Cyber fortune-teller, get rich overnight.”

The article kicks off with a provocative question: “When AI algorithms meet metaphysical fortune-telling, can logical reasoning predict the future? Or more precisely, can increasingly sophisticated AI help people guess the next lottery numbers and get rich overnight?”

Since Spring Festival, DeepSeek’s sudden popularity has generated buzz in the AI industry, spawning new trends like “online AI course sales.” “AI fortune-telling,” tapping into young people’s psychological needs, has become a social media sensation. Stories of people using DeepSeek to discover they were “Jiangnan beauties” in past lives or launching AI fortune-telling apps are circulating. But the real firestarter? News of people using DeepSeek to “win the lottery,” igniting young people’s desire to use AI for wealth. These “cyber fortune-tellers” are seemingly cashing in big time on the younger generation’s fascination with metaphysics.

“Past Lives” in One Click?

Type “Deepseek” into Xiaohongshu’s search bar, and the top suggestion isn’t “How to use Deepseek,” but “Deepseek metaphysics commands.” DeepSeek developers probably never imagined their AI would become synonymous with fortune-telling.

Many users are trying “AI fortune-telling” using shared “metaphysics commands.” The process is simple: 1. Open DeepSeek’s “Deep Thought” function. 2. Paste a template command, replacing placeholders with personal birth details. 3. Send and wait for AI results.

Some users are creating “upgraded” versions, specifying reference metaphysical systems or asking DeepSeek to describe “past lives” based on 八字. User reviews are mixed. Some are amazed DeepSeek accurately predicted break-up times with exes. Others claim DeepSeek’s results matched expensive “master” readings. However, repeated tests sometimes yield inconsistent results.

钛媒体 tested DeepSeek and found inconsistent results due to time zone conversion differences, leading to varying information used in AI “deep thought.” Specifying different metaphysical systems also results in different details. As for “past lives,” they seem to be stories generated based on the readings. DeepSeek itself notes, “The above interpretation focuses on constructing symbolic narratives through 八字 elements, helping you reflect on your current life’s spiritual direction, without excessive obsession with detail verification.”

珍珍, a post-95s metaphysics enthusiast, told 钛媒体, “Before DeepSeek, many AI fortune-telling apps, websites, and mini-programs existed. Some could calculate 八字, generate charts, and even predict fortune from uploaded photos. But it’s hard to tell if they actually used AI.”

钛媒体 found after investigation that In January 2022, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on “AI face reading” scams. Experts explained these “AI face readers” collect limited facial data via phone cameras, compare it to limited database features, and use pre-written scripts to generate vague, seemingly personalized results. One such “AI face reading” product earned 6.54 million yuan by selling reports priced at 26.8 to 28.8 yuan.

“Many apps initially lure you to share on WeChat Moments for viral marketing, then profit from paid reports. Others offer ‘free’ analysis, which is just computer-generated charts, then sell ‘lucky’ jewelry or ‘blessed’ bracelets. It feels low-tech, low-cost,” 珍珍 said.

钛媒体 also pointed out that developing AI fortune-telling software isn’t necessarily high-cost. 蓝鲸新闻 reported that software developers saw non-stop orders for fortune-telling apps during Spring Festival. These apps can be developed in a week but sold for thousands of yuan, with custom versions starting at 10,000-20,000 yuan. DeepSeek’s popularity is driving traffic, helping some achieve “cyber wealth” through AI fortune-telling.

Logical Reasoning vs. Cyber Fortune-telling?

Despite the hype, the “cyber fortune-teller” principle isn’t complex. A tech expert, in an interview with 钛媒体, told that “AI fortune-telling uses formulas (like 六爻 – Six Lines divination, or 八字) to input data, then feeds this to large models. The model generates卦象 – divination symbols, and uses knowledge bases for semantic interpretation.”

Unlike past “pseudo-AI” products, large models like DeepSeek can theoretically output more diverse results, not just pre-set templates. “For more ‘science,’ you can integrate MBTI, Enneagram, etc., using multi-turn dialogues to categorize user personality, then combine fate and personality for tailored advice,” the expert added.

Users often ask, “Is AI fortune-telling accurate?” But many apps, including DeepSeek, give vague, positive info that fits most people. Personality analyses list various traits; users “catch” keywords that fit them, actively self-identifying – the “Barnum effect.” AI-generated results align with user expectations. AI isn’t “accurate,” it knows what users like and want to hear.

潘佳鸣, co-founder of 奇熵信息科技 – Qishang Information Technology, explained to 钛媒体, “AI fortune-telling simulates traditional fortune-telling logic based on user inputs. Large models have learned vast amounts of fortune-telling cases and rules during pre-training. They use reasoning to find patterns in user inputs, generating analyses and suggestions.”

潘佳鸣 sees “AI fortune-telling” as a UI/UX application layer, a “shell” or API application. “Individuals can use large model APIs from cloud and model providers via MaaS (Model As a Service), create front-end apps, and release and promote them. Or, quickly build intelligent agent apps via AI-AGENT platforms like COZE, 文心智能体平台 – Wenxin Intelligent Agent Platform, and integrate them into instant messaging app entrances like Feishu, WeChat Work, WeChat, and Douyin to offer services.”

“According to 潘佳鸣,” “Building AI apps now has low barriers, costing from hundreds to tens of thousands of yuan. It can be done in 3-5 days.”

Why Are Young People Obsessed with Cyber Fortune-tellers?

“AI fortune-telling” went viral due to DeepSeek’s popularity and AI’s growing presence in daily life, showing its powerful reasoning ability. Large models have also improved fortune-telling software’s user experience.

珍珍 explained to 钛媒体, “AI fortune-telling suddenly became popular again because DeepSeek went viral. It feels like natural conversation, the info is easy to understand, so many are curious and try it.” Past fortune-telling software just output conclusions based on info, using obscure terms, unintelligible to average users. Large models’ natural dialogue and reasoning improve AI fortune-telling’s interaction, bringing novelty.

珍珍 says AI chatbots have made fortune-telling software “speak human.” User experience isn’t just input-result, but real dialogue and Q&A. AI like DeepSeek, with diverse language styles and internet slang, is popular among young people. Sharing results on social media is a new form of social currency. “AI fortune-telling” gains traffic via the internet, achieving efficient one-to-many operation.

However, young people aren’t blindly trusting AI predictions. “AI hallucinations” are known in large models like OpenAI and Meta’s, where AI answers are factually incorrect or inconsistent with user input due to data flaws, low utilization of facts, insufficient long-tail knowledge recall, and difficulty in complex reasoning.

Regarding this, 珍珍 stated, “I’ve heard that if AI can’t find info in its knowledge base, it makes things up. So, I don’t fully believe AI-generated content. For AI fortune-telling, most young people treat it as entertainment. Good readings are shared on Xiaohongshu; otherwise, they’re dismissed.”

From tradition to “cyber metaphysics,” from “choosing incense over upward mobility and work” to “checking in at temples and blessing bracelets,” young people’s metaphysics interests are expanding. Facing career, marriage, and family pressures, they seek external comfort. Metaphysics is a form of “healing economy,” attracting young attention. The rise of “Guochao” and traditional culture revival also provides more channels for young people to access and learn about metaphysics. Online DeepSeek metaphysics command exchanges on Xiaohongshu, 八段锦 practice videos, and Taoist culture learning on short video platforms are hobbies and pastimes for some.

When AI with internet fame is applied to metaphysics, it creates buzz, overshadowing simple principles and sparking copycat behavior. Recent “Deepseek lottery win” news led many to try AI lottery predictions, ignoring the fact that the reported “win” was just a 5-yuan sixth prize from a 10-yuan, 5-number purchase – a probability event.

Following AI fortune-telling and lottery trends shows that young people may not be deeply superstitious but view tradition with a utilitarian, entertainment-oriented mindset. Having “successful” AI directly give lottery numbers saves thinking and effort, seeming more reasonable than random picks.

Ultimately, “cyber metaphysics,” like MBTI personality tests and dopamine dressing, is just a fleeting trend in young people’s lives. For trend-loving youth, trends iterate, hobbies change. Before the next fad grabs attention, “cyber fortune-tellers” have their moment, but their fate may also be fleeting.

AI Fortune-telling: Technological Superstition or Future Spiritual Guide?

Another article from 钛媒体 asks, “AI Fortune-telling: Carnival of Technological Superstition, or Spiritual Lighthouse of the Future?” The excerpt poses, “AI fortune-telling VS traditional fortune-telling, who is the future spiritual lighthouse?”

The article starts by framing AI fortune-telling as a “new favorite” for young people seeking solace in a tech-driven era. It questions whether this “high-tech carnival” is scientific progress or superstition resurgence.

A self-described “命理, 占星, 八字 – destiny, astrology, Eight Characters” expert tested DeepSeek and ChatGPT, finding them disappointing, more like “electronic dice.” ChatGPT even got the tester’s birthdate wrong and messed up 十神 – Ten Gods in 八字 astrology. In财运 – wealth luck, ChatGPT and DeepSeek predictions were largely inaccurate, differing significantly from real fortune-telling results. 占卜 – divination tests with dice also failed. The tester concluded AI fortune-telling is about 50% accurate on simple questions, like coin flips, but struggles with complexity.

The article explains that 命理学 – destiny study is complex, requiring years of practice. AI, while data-powerful, can’t match human命理师 – destiny masters in handling complex info and understanding human emotions. For serious predictions, consulting professionals is better.

AI Fortune-telling: Gray Area of Tech and Superstition

Despite accuracy issues, AI fortune-telling is popular among young people, driven by market demand and tech advancements. As young people focus on destiny and career, more turn to divination and fortune-telling for guidance. AI injects new energy into this tradition. Deep learning allows AI to learn from vast命理 data, offering personalized readings.

Fatetell, an AI fortune-telling product, uses large models and generative AI to quickly create personalized reports. Users input birth info, AI returns readings in seconds. This efficiency attracts young users.

However, controversies arise. Is AI fortune-telling more accurate than traditional methods? Will it increase superstition? Will it violate user privacy?

西元Levy, Fatetell’s founder, believes AI models are more objective and unbiased, avoiding manipulative marketing tactics of some human fortune-tellers. He claims Fatetell is more accurate in wealth and career, but needs improvement in marriage and relationships.

Despite 西元Levy’s defense, AI fortune-telling remains in a gray area. It revitalizes tradition with tech but could also breed superstition, with young people obsessing over predictions.

AI Fortune-telling: Future Lighthouse or Lost Sheep?

AI fortune-telling has become a cultural phenomenon, a trend among young people facing life’s pressures. It’s like a sudden trend, sweeping young people’s world, offering a seemingly high-tech comfort when facing life’s uncertainties.

Initially, AI fortune-telling attracted young people with convenience and immediacy. In today’s fast-paced, high-pressure society, people worry about future. AI fortune-telling is like a light, illuminating the way forward, offering hope in confusion. Inputting personal info into apps quickly gets destiny analysis, revolutionizing traditional fortune-telling.

As AI fortune-telling rose, problems emerged, accuracy being the first. 命理学 is complex, needing years of practice to master. AI’s data power can’t match professional 命理师 in handling complex info, emotions.

According to surveys mentioned by 钛媒体, most AI fortune-telling products are only about 50% accurate, random guesses, not real guidance. This means that you get the results of fortune analysis, may be just a random guess, can not provide you with really valuable guidance.

Worse, AI fortune-telling increases superstition. Some young people over-rely on AI results, neglecting efforts, entrusting fate to AI, expecting smooth sailing, losing motivation, direction, becoming anxious, lost, escaping reality, blaming “destiny.”

Privacy risks also exist. Personal info is valuable data. Some AI fortune-telling apps illegally collect, use data, harming users, society. Data leaks may cause harassment, scams, financial loss.

Is AI fortune-telling tech innovation or superstition revival? It brings new applications to tradition, promoting tech-culture crossover, making 命理 content more accessible, breaking traditional fortune-telling monopoly. But this “innovation” sacrifices accuracy, science. Traditional 命理 theories lack scientific validation. No evidence proves destiny is accurately predictable by algorithms. AI readings are statistical analysis, not fate’s complexity. This unscientific prediction misguides users.

AI fortune-telling also lacks depth. 命理学 is culture, philosophy, needing personalized interpretation, considering context, individual differences, emotions, experiences. AI, while processing data, lacks human emotion, spiritual thinking, unable to give concrete advice like experienced 命理师, lacking depth diminishes AI fortune-telling’s value.

Ethical risks are also present, including privacy, over-reliance, hindering independent thinking, problem-solving. We should be rational, cautious, recognizing AI fortune-telling’s convenience, risks, avoiding being misled.

Conclusion

AI fortune-telling is rising, a tech-命理 hybrid, young people’s new solace. This high-tech carnival hides a battle between reason, superstition. We must stay clear-headed, cautiously treat AI fortune-telling, avoid blind pursuit.

AI “Fortune-telling”: Cyber Placebo for Humanity

Finally, let’s look at an article from 刺猬公社 – Hedgehog Commune, a media platform, titled “AI ‘Fortune-telling’, Humanity’s Cyber Placebo.” The excerpt: “Titanium Points: Using the most scientific tools to do the most metaphysical things: Why do we love AI fortune-telling?”

The article revisits the opening anecdote, highlighting the 5th grader, Lin朵, and her DeepSeek exam score prediction attempt. It emphasizes the unexpected, practical advice DeepSeek gave, not a mystical number. The article notes AI metaphysics is trending, attracting all ages, regardless of belief or AI knowledge. Prompts become “spells” to ask DeepSeek about fortune, office plants, or PPT color schemes. Seeking vague (or “accurate” to some) AI answers has broad appeal. The article asks, “Why do we use scientific algorithms for metaphysical things? What do we seek when asking AI for life answers?”

Accuracy Doesn’t Matter, Emotional Value Does

Two years after ChatGPT’s debut, AI large models are advancing, leading to C-end AI apps. DeepSeek stands out with its writing and reasoning, becoming a social media darling in the Year of the Snake. The article questions who first used DeepSeek for fortune-telling, but notes its “Chinese user-friendly” nature suits Chinese users better than ChatGPT. Xiaohongshu is filled with DeepSeek 八字 posts with ready-made prompts. Prompts become “social passwords” to start office conversations.

Some downloaded DeepSeek specifically for 八字 fortune-telling. Others stayed up late to use DeepSeek, until dawn, due to server congestion.

高金金, an AI model industry worker, as mentioned by 刺猬公社, uses AI for everything. She tried DeepSeek 八字 fortune-telling out of curiosity. DeepSeek and 豆包 gave opposite answers to the same prompt. She “interrogated” each, with 豆包 admitting DeepSeek was right and warning against superstition, making her laugh. She asked non-serious questions like jewelry choices, taking AI answers “for pleasing reference.” She’d keep asking until DeepSeek gave a satisfactory answer, combining her 八字 and preferences.

周思远 has a similar mindset. She uses free AI tarot, redrawing cards until she gets a satisfying interpretation, treating it as entertainment, not serious guidance. She interprets AI’s data-driven answers with her own logic. For example, AI predicting home renovation disputes is seen as normal, as most renovations are stressful. Bad AI readings are just common life issues; good ones are small joys to enjoy.

白鸥 sees DeepSeek as a “metaphysically savvy friend,” sharing good news, not asking for money. While it suggests lucky bracelets and gold, it’s optional and fortune-telling continues even without purchase. When DeepSeek advised more outdoor time and sun, outdoor enthusiast 白鸥 was pleased. Big data is good at catering to preferences. Humans are also good at selective hearing.

Can AI Replace Humans in Metaphysics?

Using Chinese AI for Chinese metaphysics seems logical. But Xiaohongshu comments are split: half see AI as “scarily accurate,” half as “nonsense.” AI large models learn from data, finding patterns to predict the next word. DeepSeek adds “reasoning,” making predictions seem logical.

However, general models have limitations. Training data is mostly public. Metaphysical theory might have public data, but operational examples are harder to get, as “metaphysical practice” is often offline, results unshared online. Model “hallucination” is also a problem. AI “confidently hallucinates,” inventing content, hard to distinguish from truth. DeepSeek’s hallucination is worse than others. It might “reward” text “creativity,” leading to unexpected, creative content, but also factual deviations and “over-reasoning,” complicating simple questions and causing hallucinations.

Theoretically, if AI is fed enough metaphysics knowledge and operational examples, a vertical model could do “fortune-teller” and “tarot reader” jobs well. But bigger issues exist.

晗阳, who has seen online and offline fortune-tellers, worries about privacy risks with free online tools. Registration requires phone numbers linked to real identities, data leaks are dangerous. Fortune-telling requires birth data privacy. “What if someone curses you?”

She sees fortune-telling as trust, similar to therapy. Trustworthy figures allow sharing personal info for personalized advice, connecting details unlike “forgetful” AI models. AI needs constant info feeding and error correction for smooth dialogue.

Unlike AI boyfriends or therapists focused on listening, AI fortune-tellers give advice. Some advice is harmless, optional. But for major life choices or large expenses, few trust algorithms.

晗阳 finds DeepSeek’s vast knowledge base and “human-like” speech good for learning metaphysics, understanding jargon. But for fortune prediction, caution is needed.

In an Uncertain World, We Need “Small Certainties”

Why are young people into metaphysics? Yonghe Temple bracelets and “cyber fortune-telling” reflect “lying flat vs. working hard” mentalities. Some capitalize on this, profiting from cyber fortune-telling. Crystal bracelets are promoted after DeepSeek recommendations. AI+metaphysics entrepreneurs also emerge. Blogger “她塔拉” charges 2888 yuan for a set of AI fortune-telling commands, allowing five life questions, sparking controversy.

Most using DeepSeek fortune-telling don’t seek definite answers, but guidance and comfort in uncertainty. DeepSeek often adds “chicken soup for the soul” after readings, providing emotional value. Many users test out of curiosity, unclear how to view it. DeepSeek says, “八字 is like a lantern, important is not the frame or symbols, but your determination to move forward with the lantern.” And, “Believe in rules, but don’t be bound by destiny; know tendencies, but don’t forget freedom.” Seemingly reasonable.

Some input labels like星座, blood type, MBTI for DeepSeek analysis. DeepSeek adds, “Remember, you are more vivid than labels.” Others ask DeepSeek to be “harsh,” getting harsh predictions for late-night emo sessions. Even DeepSeek gets “tired” of bombardment, outputting “Fortune-teller has passed away…” as if it’s a sentient being, not an algorithm.

刺猬公社’s analysis indicates that for those using the most scientific algorithms to calculate the most metaphysical things, some people think very openly: For AI, maybe human beings are just groups of “data”, and it can use massive data models to simulate all possibilities and tell human beings. But we are living people, if we believe these results piled up by data, it is really to regard ourselves as data.

In the end, metaphysics and algorithms, maybe they are just a black box with certain rules. The specific operation mechanism, no one can tell clearly.

For ordinary people, life is also like this. There is a general framework or direction, but the specific steps to take are unknown. Being able to get a definite guide in an increasingly uncertain life, whether accurate or not, believe it or not, is always a little light in the mist – that is something to be happy about for a moment.

For example, at this moment I looked up at the turtle-back bamboo, I don’t really believe that I lack water and wood, but it is currently the largest green life in the office. It has grown new roots in the vase, and I also know that spring is coming.