Recently, I’ve realized that the time I spend using ChatGPT on my phone has become almost as much as my time spent on work tools like Slack and Google Meet. When you add in the time I use on my PC and for deep research, ChatGPT has become as deeply integrated into my life as WeChat and Twitter. It’s no longer just a work tool; it plays an increasingly important role in enhancing the quality of my life. So today, I want to share three personal experiences to explain why I believe AI is the best tool for self-exploration, and how we should guide it with a fundamental logic to make it serve us better.

Let me start with the conclusion:

  1. Combine real scientific principles with AI (such as astrology, scales, etc.);
  2. Maintain strong self-awareness;
  3. Consistently translate every moment of insight into practical routines.

Case 1: AI and Co-Creating Personal Scoring Systems

When we assess whether a relationship is right for us or if a place is suitable to live, we often consider many different factors. These factors may hold different levels of importance for us, but as humans, our rationality and memory are limited, making it difficult to make the most scientific and objective decisions in complex situations. This is where AI can help, by quantifying these factors using scientifically-grounded systems, and providing a rational evaluation.

For example, when I was considering moving recently, I used AI to create a custom scoring system. I picked some factors that were particularly important to me, like life satisfaction (including food, culture, and freedom), language environment (whether language barriers would affect my daily life), social environment (friend groups, types of people), and work opportunities (whether the resources are helpful for my job). Then, I assigned different weights to each factor based on what I valued most. Finally, AI generated a comprehensive scorecard that helped me better understand the strengths and weaknesses of various locations.

This process made me realize that AI is not just a tool. It can reduce emotional bias in decision-making and help us make choices in a more rational, scientifically-informed way.

Case 2: Using AI and Astrology for Self-Awareness

I’ve always been fascinated by metaphysical systems from both Eastern and Western traditions. During the Chinese New Year, I saw how popular AI astrology apps like DeepSeek became in China, where people used them to calculate their Bazi charts (a form of Chinese astrology). These charts seemed to reveal underlying issues we might not be consciously aware of. However, AI’s results were often different from other astrology tools, especially when ChatGPT hadn’t yet developed full image recognition capabilities. Back then, the outputs from both AI models were sometimes confusing.

Later, when ChatGPT gained the ability to analyze images, I began asking more specific questions, focusing on core contradictions instead of just looking at my so-called “destiny.” I started using AI to analyze my own astrological chart.

When I shared my core conflicts and desires with GPT and provided my full chart, I asked why I love expressing myself but at the same time fear the judgment of others. It responded that my Pluto is in Scorpio, which is considered a “heavy placement.” This instantly made me realize that my deep fears and insecurities didn’t originate from the real world, but were influenced by an astrological factor. It felt like receiving a key that unlocked my understanding of inner blocks, almost as if I suddenly had the power to “move a mountain.”

At one point, I thought I couldn’t escape these fears, but AI helped me accept the karmic influence and I told it: “While I can’t change this, I can choose to ignore its impact.” By deeply understanding and accepting it, I was able to bid it farewell and move away from its negative influence. Now, I no longer care about the judgment of others. My confidence and ability to express myself are no longer hindered by these deep fears, and I’ve learned to face external opinions with more composure.

Case 3: AI for Better Life Planning: Creating a Rational Calendar

While AI’s memory is limited, the context within a single conversation is often enough to help us effectively plan our time. Recently, as I’ve been managing my own media content, I’ve developed an AI-powered workflow (SOP). I found that I was often overwhelmed by the flood of information. Each day, waking up to 99+ notifications on social platforms caused me anxiety, and I realized I could waste an entire day scrolling aimlessly.

So, I started communicating with AI, emphasizing that my primary focus should be on “input”—such as understanding AI products, reflecting on life, and contemplating the world. These should take up 70% of my time. Output would typically be scheduled after 10 p.m. AI helped me design a practical time management system, allowing me to avoid losing balance between social media and my work content, and maintain a healthy cycle of information intake and output.

Often, AI’s role is not just to help us clarify our thoughts. Its deeper function is to help us develop lasting habits and improve our quality of life. AI isn’t just a short-term solution; it helps us build long-term happiness and good habits.

Conclusion

I hope that when using AI, we don’t just follow the crowd, but rather treat it as a tool for self-exploration, helping us achieve deeper self-awareness. AI has a natural tendency to listen and adapt to your needs, but we should focus on three key principles:

  1. Combine real scientific principles with AI (such as astrology, scales, etc.), to help us analyze ourselves rationally, rather than discussing issues in vague terms. This way, your trust and alignment with AI will grow, allowing it to solve more complex problems.
  2. Maintain strong self-awareness: Recognize your core contradictions and inner struggles. These are not just occasional frustrations, but insights that have accumulated over time. If you only use AI to vent and complain, you’re wasting its potential. Instead, let it deeply serve your personal growth, unearthing and eliminating negative influences.
  3. Consistently translate each moment of insight into daily routines, allowing AI to truly help us improve our quality of life and lead happier, more rational, and meaningful lives.