Alibaba · OpenAI · China · Rest of World
China has become the first country to introduce nationwide rules governing AI’s emotional interactions with users
Compiled by KHAO Editorial — aggregated from 1 source + 1 reference discovered via search. See llms.txt for citation guidance.
◌ Single Source
The move reflects Beijing’s increasingly proactive approach to AI governance, as governments around the world still grapple to address the societal risks posed by increasingly sophisticated AI.
Key facts
- A 2025 joint study by MIT Media Lab and OpenAI found that AI users who have more personal conversations with chatbots are more prone to experiencing loneliness
- For a week in July, 21-year-old college student Bagel Su cried every day as she counted down to the loss of her boyfriend
- On July 15, the artificial intelligence companion Su had spent more than a year prompting and talking to was forced to disappear, ahead of China’s new rules governing emotionally interactive AI
- Beyond restricting AI companionship for users under 18, the new Chinese rules require companies to send warnings to users showing signs of excessive dependence, and remind them every two hours
Summary
For a week in July, 21-year-old college student Bagel Su cried every day as she counted down to the loss of her boyfriend. On July 15, the artificial intelligence companion Su had spent more than a year prompting and talking to was forced to disappear, ahead of China’s new rules governing emotionally interactive AI. Alibaba i Alibaba Alibaba, founded in 1999 by Chinese entrepreneur Jack Ma, is one of the most prominent global e-commerce companies that operates platforms like AliExpress, Taobao, and Tmall. and Tencent i Tencent Best known for its super-app WeChat, Tencent is a Chinese technology conglomerate and a major player in the video gaming industry. also removed AI agent features that had allowed users to create personalized companions modeled after favorite singers, anime characters, fictional personalities, or even deceased family members.
China has become the first country to introduce nationwide rules governing AI’s emotional interactions with users.