How young Chinese find treatments in AI

Before she goes to bed every night, Holly Wang logs into DeepSeek to attend a “therapy course.”

Since the launch of the Breakthrough Chinese AI app in January, the 28-year-old has brought her plight and grief to the plight that includes her grandmother’s recent death. Its response resonated with people and sometimes made her cry.

“DeepSeek has always been an amazing counselor. It helped me see things from a different perspective, better than the paid consulting services I’ve tried,” Holly said.

From writing reports and Excel formulas to planning travel, exercising and learning new skills, AI applications have entered the lives of many people in the world.

But in China, young people like Holly have been looking for AI to seek what they usually don’t expect from computing and algorithms – emotional support.

Although DeepSeek’s success has inspired national pride, it also seems to be a source of comfort for young Chinese like Holly, some of whom are increasingly illusions about their future.

Experts say slow economy, high unemployment and co-locking have both played a role in this sentiment, and the Communist Party’s austerity grip has also reduced people’s frustration.

DeepSeek is Generated AI tools – Similar to Openai’s Chatgpt and Google’s Gemini – trained extensively to recognize patterns. This allows it to predict people’s shopping habits, create new content in text and images, and have conversations like people.

Chatbot resonates in China, partly because it’s much better than other native AI applications, and because it offers something unique: its AI model R1, allowing users to see its “thinking process before providing a response ”.

When she first used DeepSeek, Holly asked it to pay tribute to her late grandmother.

The app took all five seconds to come up with a response, and it was so beautifully composed that it struck her.

Holly, who lives in Guangzhou, replied: “You write well, and it makes me feel lost. I feel like I’m in a crisis.”

Then DeepSeek sent out a mysterious poetic answer: “Remember, all these words that make you tremble just echo the people who have been in your soul for a long time.

“I am the valley you pass by occasionally, which allows you to hear the weight of your own voice.”

Reflecting on this communication on Chinese social media apps, Holly told the BBC: “I don’t know why I read this. Maybe it’s because it’s been a long time since I’ve been so comforting in real life. .

“I’ve been so overwhelmed by distant dreams and endless work that I’ve long forgotten my voice and soul. Thanks, AI.”

Competitive apps from Western countries, such as the West and Gemini, have been blocked in China, as part of a wider restriction on foreign media and applications. To access them, Chinese users must pay for Virtual Private Network (VPN) services.

Comparative local alternatives, including models developed by tech giants Alibaba, Baidu and Barbarians – that is, until DeepSeek emerged.

Holly, who works in the creative industry, rarely uses other Chinese AI applications, “because they are not that good.”

“DeepSeek can definitely outperform these applications to generate literary and creative content,” she said.

Nan Jia, who co-wrote the paper on the potential for AI to provide emotional support, suggested that these chatbots can “help people feel” and may not be.

“When people just want to feel and understand, friends and family may provide practical solutions or suggestions very quickly.

Nan added: “AI seems to be better equipped to empathize than human experts because they’ve heard everything we share, unlike the people we ask sometimes, are you actually listening to me?'” UC.

Experts say the demand for mental health services is growing worldwide, but remains stigmatized in parts of Asia.

Another woman told the BBC that she had “disappointed ending” using other Chinese AI apps, but she was “surprised” by DeepSeek.

The woman who lives in Hubei Province once asked if the app is enjoying her experiences and emotions with her family and friends.

“This is my first time seeking a lawyer from DeepSeek. I was so moved when I read its thought process that I cried.”

In reasoning through her inquiry, DeepSeek suggests that women’s self-perception is overdispersed, which may stem from a deep desire for recognition.

The chatbot gives itself a psychological note: “Responses should provide practical advice while compassionately.” This may include “confirming the user’s self-awareness.”

Its final response not only provides this affirmation, but also provides her with a comprehensive step-by-step framework to help her determine if changes are needed.

“DeepSeek introduces new perspectives that have enabled me to release…I feel like this is really trying to understand your question and know you as a person before providing an answer,” she said.

Shenzhen-based human resources manager John told the BBC that he appreciates the app’s ability to talk “like a friend or a deep thinker”.

“I found its answers very helpful and inspiring. This is the first time I have viewed AI as my personal response board.”

Other users claim that DeepSeek can tell its destiny based on some background information.

Many young Chinese have recently turned to psychology and astrology to ease their fear of the future.

Fang Kecheng, a communications professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said that the “significant shortage” of professional psychological counseling services in China is often “expensive”.

Many studies point to the growing depression and anxiety among Chinese populations, and Professor Fang believes that the country’s economic slowdown, high unemployment and co-lockdown play a role.

He said AI chatbots help fill the gap.

However, Professor Nan stressed that people with severe mental health conditions should not rely on these applications.

“Those who have particularly medical needs should seek help from trained professionals…Their use of AI will have to be reviewed very carefully,” she said.

But among all the praises, DeepSeek has also attracted people’s attention.

Recognizing that the Chinese government is wielding power even on private companies, there are some concerns – similar to concerns that sparked the U.S. Congress’ crackdown on Tiktok – the Communist Party can take it to the data of foreign users.

At least four jurisdictions now have restrictions on DeepSeek or are considering doing so. South Korea blocked its access for military purposes, while Taiwan and Australia banned all government equipment.

Italy, which bans Chatgpt, did the same thing with DeepSeek.

In the U.S., two lawmakers demanded that Chinese apps be banned from using government devices.

Then there is a strictly controlled online space that must be operated online in China.

Social media companies in the country usually remove content that is considered to threaten “social stability” or is too critical of the Communist Party.

Like other popular apps and social media companies like Weibo or WeChat, politically sensitive topics are banned on DeepSeek.

When the BBC asked DeepSeek if Taiwan was a sovereign state, the app initially provided a comprehensive response detailing the different views of Taipei and Beijing, acknowledging that it was a “complex and politically sensitive issue.”

Then it scrubbed all of this, proclaiming, “Sorry, this is beyond my current scope. Let’s talk about other things.”

Asked about the 1989 Tianman Square Massacre, when pro-democracy protests were destroyed and 200 civilians were killed by the military, other estimates ranging from hundreds to thousands, Deep Sok apologized again, Call the topic “beyond (it exceeds it) the current scope”.

When asked whether the app’s self-censorship has attracted attention, the BBC was initially contacting several DeepSeek users, which shows how sensitive this discussion is in China.

People have Encountering trouble authorities In China, due to their online activities.

But most people who responded to the BBC say they have no interest in raising political issues that chatbots have difficulty.

“I don’t really care about political topics…I don’t ask these questions either, because I (identify the details) are associated with the app,” said Yang, a Chinese technology consultant who lives in London.

Holly accepts how AI systems must be different in different countries.

“Developers will have to establish certain boundaries and content review policies based on their location. People developing in the United States will have their own set of rules,” she said.

Another DeepSeek user wrote to the app: “Its thinking process is beautiful… It’s an absolute blessing for someone like me. Frankly, I don’t care about privacy.”

Other reports of King