Summary Points
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Zhang, who recently left her stable tech job to start a business, now uses DeepSeek as an AI oracle for guidance, replacing traditional fortune-telling and unaccessible psychotherapy in China.
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The surge of DeepSeek usage reflects a broader trend among Chinese youth reviving traditional fortune-telling practices amidst economic anxiety and a high unemployment rate, with over 2 million mentions on WeChat in February 2025.
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Growing disillusionment about the future has led many young Chinese to identify as the "last generation," seeking comfort in spirituality as a means of feeling in control during times of economic stagnation.
- DeepSeek’s advanced AI capabilities allow users to engage with BaZi, a complex traditional fortune-telling method, making spiritual insights more accessible without the need for expert interpretation.
DeepSeek: The AI Fortune Teller Empowering China’s Youth
Zhang exhaled. She recently quit her stable job as a product manager at a major tech company to start her own business. Now, she felt validated. For years, she relied on traditional Chinese fortune tellers before making major life decisions. She spent up to 500 RMB (about $70) per session. However, things changed when she discovered DeepSeek.
"I began to speak to DeepSeek as if it’s an oracle," Zhang says. This AI tool supports her spirituality and serves as a convenient alternative to psychotherapy, which remains stigmatized and largely inaccessible in China. "It has become my go-to when I feel overwhelmed by thoughts and emotions."
Zhang is not alone. DeepSeek has emerged as a challenger to OpenAI and drawn attention from many young people across the nation. In February alone, over 2 million posts mentioned “DeepSeek fortune-telling” on WeChat, China’s largest social platform. Users are sharing AI-generated readings and reviving ancient spiritual texts, all with the help of this innovative tool.
The rise of DeepSeek coincides with a period of anxiety among Chinese youth. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, youth unemployment peaked at 21% in June 2023. Although it improved slightly, the rate stood at 16% by the end of 2024. Young Chinese now refer to themselves as the “last generation,” expressing reluctance about marriage and parenthood amid a shaky future.
“At a time of economic stagnation and low employment rates, spiritual practices create an illusion of control and provide solace,” says Ting Guo, an assistant professor in religious studies at Hong Kong Chinese University. In a country with a secular regime, opportunities to explore spirituality in public often dwindle. Thus, many turn to private settings—like their smartphones or computers.
Zhang first heard about DeepSeek in January 2025 when news of its launch filled her WeChat feed. Curious, she tried it and was stunned. "Unlike other AI models, it felt fluid, almost humanlike," she says. As a spirituality enthusiast, she soon tested its ability to tell her fortune using BaZi. The results were remarkably insightful.
BaZi, or the Four Pillars of Destiny, is a traditional Chinese fortune-telling system based on one’s birth date and time. It predicts career success, relationships, and financial fortune by analyzing the balance of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water in a person’s chart. Traditionally, skilled masters provided creative and poetic readings. This complexity made AI reproduction challenging.
Yet, DeepSeek’s ability to leverage ancient knowledge and modern technology captivates its users. It offers a new way for the youth to navigate uncertainties while honoring cultural traditions. With its growth, DeepSeek not only represents a technological advancement but also a revival of spirituality tailored to contemporary needs.
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