According to traditional Chinese metaphysics, a “yun” (运) lasts for twenty years. The period from 2024 to 2043 is known as the “Nine Purple Fire Luck” (九紫离火运).
The Nine Purple Fire Luck is associated with the element of fire, symbolizing civilization, technology, communication, wisdom, vision, light, and electricity. Its core characteristics align closely with the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence (AI).
On November 30, 2022, Open AI launched the ChatGPT-3.5 model, marking the beginning of the AI era. Over the next two years, AI advanced at an unprecedented pace, driven by intense competition between China and the United States. The rapid progress was so astonishing that it felt almost overwhelming.
By the 2025 Chinese New Year, the release of Deep-seek pushed AI to a whole new level. Deep-seek introduced two groundbreaking innovations:
- Ultra-low development costs: It took just $5.5 million to develop a model comparable to GPT-4. Previously, such high-level AI models required investments in the hundreds of millions. This dramatically lowered the financial barrier, enabling more teams to participate in AI development.
- Open-source accessibility: This groundbreaking core technology was shared globally with developers, making AI more accessible than ever. It not only removed financial barriers but also significantly lowered the technical threshold.
Although AI remains a game played by a select few elites, it is no longer controlled solely by capital giants or technological gatekeepers. I believe that one day, AI’s barriers will be lowered even further, making knowledge and technology truly accessible to all.
My AI-Powered 2025
Stepping into 2025, I feel as if I’ve unlocked a cheat code—I’ve suddenly become effortlessly proficient in using AI. AI helps me make decisions, design, manage, and create content. It assists me with nearly everything.
As a result, I’ve become utterly dependent on AI. I even consult AI to decide whether something looks good or not. Just yesterday, on a whim, I decided to start making short videos again. In the past, it took me half a day to create a single, low-quality video. But yesterday, I produced nearly 20 videos in one go—only stopping because my voice was exhausted.
AI wrote the scripts. AI recorded the voice-overs. AI handled the editing. I, on the other hand, became a soulless “talking head,” eventually limited by the biological constraints of being a carbon-based life form. In my mind, I imagined AI rolling its eyes, thinking, This human pod-caster is way too inefficient.
That night, as I lay in bed, my body aching and my mind overwhelmed, I couldn’t sleep. Are we destined to be led by AI for the rest of our lives? Will humanity ultimately be controlled—or even eliminated—by AI? Thankfully, I still have my blog—a space where I promised from the start that every word would be written by my hand.This blog allows me to slow down, to reflect, and to have a conversation with my soul.
More Knowledge, Less Happiness
There’s a saying: To learn is to increase daily; to follow the Dao is to decrease daily. The explosion of technology has led to an explosion of information and productivity. But instead of making life happier, it has only made people more exhausted—endless work, endless learning. If we stop working and learning, we fall into deep anxiety. In this constant state of busyness and worry, we’ve lost the ability to pause and ask ourselves: Why are we here?
Desire, Karma, and True Happiness
Lately, I’ve come across a thought-provoking model:
Willpower (愿力) > Karma (业力) > Ability (能力)
Technological advancement drives an explosion of information and productivity. This, in turn, forces us to constantly “compete” to enhance our abilities. But the relentless pursuit of ability often traps us in an endless cycle of karma—leading to stress, anxiety, and suffering.
Simply improving our skills doesn’t necessarily bring happiness. More often, it drags us deeper into the abyss of exhaustion. Only by finding our true willpower—our higher purpose—can we transcend karma, master our abilities, and enjoy a fulfilling life. I love reading because it brings me peace and joy. But when I read out of fear of falling behind, it leaves me exhausted and anxious.
I love playing sports because it makes me feel alive. But when I chase athletic performance and competition, it leads to injuries and frustration. I love working because it gives me a sense of accomplishment. But when I work solely for status and recognition, it drains my energy and distorts my soul. I once thought these pursuits were driven by my willpower. But in reality, they were fuelled by desire—the very karma that keeps us trapped.
Slowing Down in 2025
As AI enhances my abilities, it also increases my exhaustion and anxiety. I suspect this will happen to everyone striving for progress. In the next twenty years, we will all experience moments of being overwhelmed by AI and technology. When that happens, remind yourself:
Pause. Let your body rest. Let your soul catch up.
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year. May the next twenty years bring you clarity, peace, and the strength to stay true to yourself.