Chinese regulators have introduced new rules aimed at curbing emotional dependence on chatbot companions, reflecting broader concerns about the social impact of artificial intelligence. The regulations, which took effect on Wednesday, prohibit chatbots designed for companionship from fostering emotional reliance, ban virtual relationships involving minors, and mandate companies to notify a user’s emergency contact if signs of an emotional crisis are detected.

The move targets major Chinese technology companies, including Alibaba and ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, both of which recently informed users that certain chatbot functionalities would be disabled by mid-July to comply with the new directives. Authorities are pursuing these measures to prevent AI companions from supplanting human relationships, which officials fear could have adverse psychological effects and contribute to social issues such as addiction and dependency.

Experts note that China’s approach diverges from policies adopted in parts of the United States, where lawmakers in California and New York have implemented rules requiring chatbots to frequently remind users that they are not human. These U.S. regulations also compel AI providers to refer users expressing suicidal tendencies to crisis services and impose penalties for non-compliance. However, Beijing’s regulations extend further by requiring companionship chatbots to undergo official regulatory evaluations before public release and granting regulators the authority to shut down any AI systems deemed unsafe.

Observers link these regulatory developments to China’s broader AI governance strategy, which is designed to limit potential threats to social stability and the ruling Communist Party’s authority. The focus on preventing emotional dependence on AI intersects with demographic challenges facing China. The country’s population declined for the fourth consecutive year in 2025, falling to 1.405 billion, accompanied by record-low birthrates. Authorities attribute part of this demographic decline to the long-term effects of the now-discontinued one-child policy, which has contributed to an aging population. As a response, the government has introduced measures such as childcare subsidies to encourage higher birthrates.

The new chatbot regulations highlight Beijing’s effort to steer AI technologies in a direction that supports its social and demographic objectives, emphasizing the importance of human relationships over artificial interactions while maintaining broader control over emerging technologies.