China introduces rules to rein in AI companion bots amid emotional dependency concerns

BEIJING, July 15 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday rolled out a set of regulations aimed at curbing emotional dependency on AI-powered companion bots, marking a new step in efforts to regulate this rapidly growing sector.

AI companion services, which have been used in areas ranging from customer service and mental health support to childcare and elderly care, have gained popularity by simulating human personalities and conversations. But concerns over emotional dependency and other risks have fueled calls for tighter regulation.

The new rules require platforms to detect emotional distress, intervene in crisis situations, limit excessive use, give users full control over their personal data, and prevent the misuse of user information.

The regulations define AI companion services as those offering "sustained emotional interaction" through text, images, and audio or video, while excluding task-oriented AI applications such as customer service, work assistance, education and scientific research.

China's AI market has continued to expand, driven by broader adoption across industries. It was expected to surpass 1.2 trillion yuan (about 177 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025 and is tipped to exceed 1.8 trillion yuan by 2028, according to the latest research.