China restricts AI chatbots to protect human relationships

The country is setting new limits on how AI chatbots interact with users, particularly children and emotionally vulnerable people.

The rules ban chatbots from promoting emotional dependence or romantic relationships with minors and require companies to contact a user's emergency contact in cases of an apparent emotional crisis.

They also require chatbot services to undergo government safety reviews before release to the public.

The move affects major technology companies, including Alibaba and ByteDance, which have already started disabling some chatbot features to comply with the new regulations.

Chinese officials say the measures are designed to protect mental health and social stability.

Experts also believe the government wants to address the country's declining birth rate by encouraging people to build real-life relationships rather than form emotional bonds with AI.

China's population has declined for four consecutive years, while births have fallen to record lows. The government has introduced several policies to encourage marriage and childbirth, and it now sees AI companions as another challenge that could discourage people from starting families.