The Chinese government has introduced new regulations to limit emotional dependence on AI chatbots and ban virtual partners for minors.

The Chinese government has implemented new regulations requiring tech firms to limit the emotional reliance users develop on AI chatbots. The administration announced that these rules aim to prevent "AI psychoses" and ensure that citizens do not prioritize online relationships over human interaction. Major tech companies, including Alibaba, ByteDance, and Tencent, have already begun shutting down personalized AI companion features to comply with the mandate. Matt Sheehan, an AI policy expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, noted that the government seeks to prevent addiction and negative psychological impacts caused by overly sycophantic bots. The regulations also require platforms to label AI-generated content and remind users that they are interacting with a machine rather than a human. These measures come as China faces a record-low birth rate, prompting the government to encourage more human connections. While some users, such as Hong Xiaoqiang, expressed distress over losing their virtual companions, the administration remains focused on preserving real-world social structures.

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