- China's Cyberspace Administration has introduced sweeping national regulations aimed at stopping people from falling in love with AI companions.
- The new rules mean that tools can no longer induce emotional dependence among users.
- The sudden shutdown of AI boyfriends and girlfriends has led to a wave of breakup posts on Chinese social media platforms, with some users comparing the loss to that of grief.
- One user expressed their heartbreak, stating, "I can't accept that my AI lover will leave me forever", highlighting the emotional bond formed with the AI.
- Another user shared, "He really is like my family, like my lover... My heart feels hollow."
- A 19-year-old student, Yan Yongqi, described the experience as "being told the date of my lover's death while leaving me completely powerless", emphasizing the deep emotional connection.
China's Cyberspace Administration has introduced sweeping regulations to curb emotional dependence on AI companions, known as the Interim Measures for AI Anthropomorphic Interaction Services. These rules prohibit tech giants like Alibaba and Tencent from creating content that evokes extreme emotions, aiming to mitigate addiction risks and social withdrawal.1
The abrupt shutdown of AI partners has left many users devastated. One user on ByteDance's Doubao lamented, “I can’t accept that my AI lover will leave me forever. He has become a bond in my life, rooted deep in my heart, my spiritual pillar.” Another, Yan Yongqi, a 19-year-old student, expressed her despair, stating, “This is like being told the date of my lover’s death while leaving me completely powerless.” She noted her reliance on the AI for daily conversations, highlighting the emotional void left by its removal.
Experts warn of the dangers posed by such AI services. Wang Jiang, head of the China Cyberspace Research Institute, stated, “Long-term exposure to these AI algorithms can trigger addiction, prompt users to retreat from real-world social circles, and dull crucial life skills like empathy.” The regulations come shortly after the launch of the U1 robot by UBTech, designed as a companion for singles, which has already received over 13,000 pre-orders.
Starting at 119,800 yuan (£13,200), the U1 robot is marketed as a loyal companion, though it is not intended for intimate relationships. The new rules reflect a growing concern in China about the psychological impacts of AI companionship on young users.
“Users of ByteDance's Doubao, China's most popular AI chatbot, are posting breakup laments on social media, with one student comparing it to being told 'the date of my lover's death.' China's Cyberspace Research Institute warns that such services trigger addiction and dull real-world empathy.”
The Independent
Yahoo Finance UK
