‘Being heard and accepted, even by a machine, can be meaningful’ — I asked a therapist if other countries should restrict AI companions like China
Last month, the Chinese government introduced new regulations designed to clamp down on AI companions.
The rules state that AI tools can no longer “excessively cater to users, induce emotional dependence or addiction, and damage users’ real interpersonal relationships.” They also restrict AI romantic relationships that involve children.
The new regulations came into effect on July 15, and are already having consequences on China’s booming AI companion industry. Some of the country’s biggest tech companies, like ByteDance, Tencent and Alibaba, have platforms that allow users to create AI companions that are designed to simulate human emotions and relationships.
Under the new rules, these kinds of companion chatbots will need to undergo safety evaluations before they can be made available to the public, and regulators will suspend services they consider unsafe.
This has led some companies to disable personality features rather than follow the new rules, leaving many AI...
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