Welcome to Foreign Policy’s China Brief.
The highlights this week: China’s new rules governing artificial intelligence companions take effect, a deadly shoe factory fire devastates the southeastern city of Jinjiang, and China braces for an active typhoon season.
AI Companion Regulations Take Effect
China’s new rules governing artificial intelligence companions will come into effect on Wednesday, prompting many industry players to cancel or suspend services until the impact of the regulations becomes clear.
AI companions are large language models wrapped in a fictional persona, creating the illusion of an individual with whom users can form a relationship. One could approximate this with conventional AI models through careful prompts, but apps such as Xingye (“Star Field”) or Zhumengdao (“Dream Island”) are designed specifically for this experience. Comparable Western apps exist, but most are blocked in China.
