Good morning. Heartbreak abounds in China this week as new rules take effect to keep AI chatbots squarely in the friend zone.
Beijing policymakers have no problem with citizens using chatbots for light companionship, but the operative word is “light.” AI ‘bots may no longer encourage emotional reliance or enter virtual relationships with minors, according to the “Interim Measures for AI Anthropomorphic Interactive Services” issued in April. (Just rolls off the tongue, really.)
The regulation is believed to be the world’s first tackling the emotional link between man and artificially intelligent machine. It’s also leaving a trail of jilted virtual lovers in its wake—especially as Alibaba and ByteDance nerf their chatbots rather than draw the government’s ire.
Our relationship with AI in 2026: It’s complicated!
More tech news follows. —Andrew Nusca
