Qie Le bar in Beijing is mixing cocktails with ancient Chinese fortune-telling to read the future—especially around AI’s impact on jobs.
The trend is booming in China as economic uncertainty drives young people to spiritualism over pricey therapy. At Qie Le, cli ents sip drinks while shaking a wooden container full of qiuqian sticks, a Taoist method dating back to the Jin dynasty. One stick drops out to answer a question.
The reporter’s first question: “Will AI take my job?” The fortune-teller Wan Mo gave a blunt forecast. 
Wan Mo said:
“This stick means that later on, AI will have an impact on your job … even though you’re very talented, you can’t compete with its scale. For example, if you write one article, it can write 10. It will definitely affect you.”
She added a timeline:
“It says that within one to three years, there won’t be a major impact. But after three years, AI will become a major force.”
No sweet news there. A second question on pay raises brought only cautious hope.
Wan Mo responded:
“There’s not much possibility at the moment. Although [the stick] is about transition … it shows there is no major change … There is some hope, but it’s not immediate. You need to make some personal adjustments.”
Asked what adjustments help, Wan Mo suggested spiritual aids alongside practical steps.
“If you want a pay rise, xuanxue can only offer support,” she said. “For example, the bracelet I’m wearing is for attracting wealth. It’s made from natural materials … we’d recommend wearing something like this. It can help bring in some financial luck and may have a positive effect. But the most important thing is still communicating with the superiors.”
Fortune-telling bars like Qie Le blend traditional mysticism with modern day worries. In China’s slowing economy, they offer a cheaper, culturally rooted alternative for easing anxiety about AI and the future.
For more on the spiritual economy trend in China, see The Guardian’s coverage.
