China AI regulations

China is implementing new regulations for AI companions, targeting services designed for emotional interaction. These rules, effective July 15th, mandate anti-addiction systems, usage notifications, and real-time monitoring. Major platforms like Doubao and Qwen have proactively disabled companion features due to design challenges and potential non-compliance. The regulations aim to protect users, especially minors, from emotional manipulation and addiction, while also allowing Beijing to influence AI-generated content.