Young Chinese embrace AI apps like DeepSeek for emotional support
What's the story
DeepSeek, a revolutionary artificial intelligence (AI) app from China, is offering emotional support to its young users.
Launched in January, the app has already turned into a source of comfort for many.
As per BBC, one user, Holly Wang (name changed for privacy), even uses DeepSeek regularly for "therapy sessions," talking about her personal problems such as the recent demise of her grandmother.
Emotional resonance
DeepSeek's impact on users
Wang has found DeepSeek's responses to be incredibly impactful, often moving her to tears.
She praised the app as an "amazing counselor" that helped her see things from various perspectives.
Wang even asserted that it outperformed the paid counseling services she had previously tried.
This highlights the significant emotional support provided by the AI tool, particularly in times of personal distress.
National sentiment
DeepSeek: A beacon of hope amid disillusionment
DeepSeek's success has not just ignited national pride but also offered solace to young Chinese like Wang, who are growing more uncertain about their future.
Experts blame a sluggish economy, high unemployment, and COVID-19 lockdowns for this sentiment.
The Communist Party's tightening grip has also restricted ways for people to vent their frustrations, making platforms like DeepSeek all the more precious.
AI capabilities
DeepSeek's unique AI model and user interaction
DeepSeek is a generative AI tool, much like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini.
It is trained on tons of data to identify patterns, predict behaviors (like shopping habits), create new content (in text and images), and converse like a human.
What makes it different from other Chinese AI apps is its unique AI model, R1, which lets you see its "thought process" before delivering a response.
User experience
DeepSeek's eloquence and emotional intelligence
Wang was especially touched by DeepSeek's eloquent and emotionally intelligent responses.
In one case, she requested the app to write a tribute to her late grandmother. The app quickly came up with a beautifully composed response that left her in awe.
This interaction highlights the advanced capabilities of DeepSeek in understanding and responding to complex human emotions with sensitivity and depth.
Market dominance
DeepSeek's superiority over other Chinese AI apps
Western apps such as ChatGPT and Gemini are blocked in China as part of broader restrictions on foreign media and apps.
Domestic alternatives developed by tech giants Alibaba, Baidu, and ByteDance have failed to match up to DeepSeek's performance.
Wang, who works in the creative industry, said "DeepSeek can definitely outperform these apps in generating literary and creative content," further cementing its dominance in the market.
Expert insight
AI chatbots' potential in providing emotional support
Nan Jia, co-author of a paper on AI's potential in offering emotional support, suggested these chatbots can "help people feel heard" in ways fellow humans may not.
She said "AI appears to be better able to empathize than human experts also because they 'hear' everything we share."
This insight underscores the unique role of AI tools like DeepSeek in providing emotional support and understanding.