Study Documents Growing Use of AI Chatbots for Divination on Chinese Social Media
Researchers analyzed over 23,000 posts from Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu and interviewed 32 users and professional diviners to document how people use large language models for divination practices. Users primarily consult AI about practical concerns like relationships and careers, with perceived accuracy often explained through confirmation bias and biographical fit. The study finds that while LLM divination preserves traditional functions, it introduces new scalability and collaborative elements that reshape how divination authority is constructed.
A peer-reviewed study published on arXiv examines the emerging cultural practice of using conversational AI for divination (Xuanxue) on Chinese social media. Through analysis of 23,000+ posts and comments from Xiaohongshu and 32 semi-structured interviews, researchers found that users consult LLMs primarily about pragmatic concerns—romantic relationships, careers, exams, and gaming outcomes—driven by viral trends and zero-cost access. Users engage in collaborative prompt refinement, becoming active participants in generating divinations, and develop verification practices like repeated trials and cross-model comparison. Professional diviners, however, argue that LLMs lack the "spiritual power" required for genuine divination, reflecting both philosophical commitments and economic concerns. The study situates these findings within anthropological and cognitive-evolutionary theories, arguing that LLM divination preserves core traditional functions while introducing new scalability and prompt-driven co-production that reshape divination authority.
What's missing
The study's own limitations are not detailed in the abstract provided, such as potential geographic or demographic biases in the Xiaohongshu sample, temporal scope of data collection, or methodological constraints in interview recruitment and analysis.
What different sources said
- arXiv cs.AICenter
Divination by Prompt: LLM-Mediated Xuanxue on Chinese Social Media
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