China is banning AI-generated companions to encourage users to form real-life relationships, sparking nationwide virtual breakups — and therapists think it's for the best
- China has enforced laws to clamp down on AI-generated persona apps
- The new rules say AI tools can no longer induce emotions and damage real-life connections
- Tech giants have shut down their services, leaving users going through a nationwide breakup
The Chinese government is introducing new regulations designed to clamp down on AI-generated romantic companions — yes, they’re actually a thing.
Issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and four other government departments, the regulations state that AI tools can no longer “excessively cater to users, induce emotional dependence or addiction, and damage users’ real interpersonal relationships,” while also banning virtual relationships with minors. This came into effect on July 15.
Chinese tech giants including ByteDance, Tencent, and Alibaba each have their own platforms (most famously ByteDance’s Doubao) that allow users to generate their own AI companions which are designed to express human-like emotions. In the wake of the...
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