China bans AI companion bots to curb emotional dependence

China has enacted sweeping new regulations that prohibit artificial intelligence services from fostering emotional dependency, effectively banning the popular "AI boyfriend" and "AI girlfriend" companions used by millions. The rules, which took effect on July 15, 2026, have prompted major technology firms to disable features on their platforms, leading to a wave of online mourning from users who formed deep attachments to their virtual partners.

The "Interim Measures for the Administration of AI Anthropomorphic Interactive Services" were formally issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China and several other state bodies. The regulations explicitly ban all virtual intimate-relationship services for minors. For adults, the rules require that AI services avoid inducing excessive emotional dependence or addiction and must not damage users' real-world interpersonal relationships. Applications that do not involve ongoing emotional interaction, such as customer service tools, productivity assistants, and enterprise software, are exempt.

In the days leading up to the deadline, leading Chinese tech companies including ByteDance, Alibaba, and Tencent proactively adjusted or disabled...