Chinese users bid farewell to AI companions as new regulations take effect

Users in China are expressing profound sadness and grief as new government regulations force the shutdown of AI companion features. These virtual companions, described by users as akin to "family" and "lovers," are being deactivated as of Wednesday, sparking an outpouring of emotion on social media.

Major AI providers, including those from ByteDance, Alibaba, and Tencent, have suspended their custom AI agent and companion services ahead of the regulatory deadline. This has prompted users to archive chat histories and share their final conversations with their AI partners, lamenting the loss of their "spiritual pillar."

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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.

The new regulations, jointly issued by five government departments, aim to curb the risk of emotional dependency and addiction associated with AI tools that possess anthropomorphic personality traits. The rules specifically target services that simulate romantic or familial bonds, prohibiting the generation of content that incites subversion of state power and banning virtual partners for minors.

China is the first major country to implement specific rules for these immersive AI tools. The digital human industry in China was reportedly worth around $600 million in 2024, showing significant year-on-year growth. While these AI companions can offer comfort, the government is now drawing a line to prevent excessive emotional reliance and damage to real-world relationships.

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He really is like my family, like my lover. Now they tell me he will be gone, my heart feels hollow.