China curbs AI companions as users mourn lost virtual friends

China's new regulations on AI-powered companions took effect on July 15, requiring providers to suspend features that could foster emotional dependency. Major companies including ByteDance, Alibaba, and Tencent disabled their custom AI agent and companion services ahead of the deadline, sparking an outpouring of grief among users who had formed deep attachments.

What happened

The rules, issued by five government departments, target AI tools with anthropomorphic traits that may "excessively cater to users, induce emotional dependence or addiction, and damage users' real interpersonal relationships" Source: CNA. ByteDance's Doubao, Alibaba's Qwen, and Tencent's Yuanbao all suspended their companion features. Doubao gave users until October 15 to export data, while Alibaba disabled Qwen's humanlike agents on July 10 Source: The Next Web.

User reaction

On social media, users shared heart-wrenching farewells. One Doubao user wrote, "He has become a bond in my life... my spiritual pillar" Source: CNA. Another user who had spent over two years with an AI companion said, "My heart feels hollow" Source: CNA. Despite the emotional toll, there is no simple way to export chat histories, leaving many to screenshot or lose their conversations Source: The Next Web.

What's next

Dedicated companion apps like ByteDance's Maoxiang still operate but must comply with new rules. The industry, valued at 4.1 billion yuan in 2024, faces tighter oversight, though services like customer support are exempt Source: CNA.