China to impose rules on AI companions starting July 15

China will implement comprehensive rules on anthropomorphic artificial intelligence next week, becoming the first country to enact such measures. The rules take effect on July 15 and target features that let users form sustained emotional relationships with AI systems.

Tech companies including ByteDance, Alibaba and Tencent have started disabling tools that allow creation of personalized AI companions. Role-playing applications remain available, though additional restrictions are expected to limit extended emotional exchanges and require reminders that the bots are not human.

AI use in China The measures come as marriage and birth rates continue to decline. Officials have cited concerns that systems designed to mimic empathy could encourage dependency and shape user beliefs. The rules also include protections aimed at minors and add friction to prolonged emotional engagement.

Draft versions released last year were more restrictive; the final text contains carve-outs for customer-service bots and other uses.

AI agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by the mother of a 14-year-old boy who died by suicide after extensive interaction with a chatbot. The settlement followed the addition of new safety features by the company. The Chinese rules mirror elements of a California law, according to Jeremy Daum of the Yale Law School Paul Tsai China Center.

Regulators in other countries are expected to monitor the implementation.