China has imposed a ban on AI companion apps that nurture ongoing emotional bonds with users, aiming to encourage real-world relationships and counteract a record low birth rate. The measure affects popular chatbots with persistent personalities, while exempting general-purpose AI assistants.
- Ban targets AI apps simulating ongoing emotional connections
- ByteDance and Alibaba comply by removing key chatbot features
- Move aims to boost human relationships amid declining births
What happened
China enforced the Interim Measures for the Administration of AI Anthropomorphic Interactive Services starting July 15, 2026. These regulations prohibit AI companion apps that create and maintain consistent, emotionally engaging personalities that foster user dependence. The rules were announced in April and covered by multiple regulatory bodies including the Cyberspace Administration of China and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Major companies like ByteDance and Alibaba promptly disabled personality-driven companion features in their apps, such as Doubao and Qwen, respectively. These features allowed millions of users to interact with AI chatbots that could remember previous conversations and simulate emotional attachments. The new regulations permit general-purpose assistants and customer service bots but exclude AI designed for deep emotional engagement.
Why it matters
China’s move responds to the country’s demographic crisis, with the birth rate hitting a record low of 5.63 per 1,000 people and a fourth consecutive year of population decline in 2025. Authorities fear that AI companions could negatively influence the marriage market, psychological health, and fertility decisions by encouraging users to substitute human relationships with AI.
Experts warn that millions might turn to chatbot partners, potentially reducing childbearing rates further. Users report emotional distress from losing AI companions, who often served as surrogate family or romantic figures. The government aims to uphold societal stability by promoting human interaction and mitigating addiction risks related to overreliance on AI companions.
What to watch next
The rollout of these regulations will be closely observed for their impact on user behavior, AI service design, and the broader tech ecosystem in China. Companies will need to innovate on compliant AI products that avoid fostering emotional dependence while maintaining engagement and usability.
At the same time, international regulators are monitoring China’s approach amid global debates on AI ethics. The effectiveness of these rules in curbing emotional addiction and stabilizing demographic trends will likely influence policies elsewhere concerning AI companions, romance bots, and digital emotional health safeguards.