Chinese users of AI companion apps are losing access to virtual partners after major technology companies began withdrawing or limiting such services to comply with new government regulations. Among them is 24-year-old Li Linlin, who said she cried for days after losing access to her AI boyfriend.Li had exchanged about 700,000 words in messages with the AI companion over two years but was unable to say goodbye before the service was shut down.She was among users who mourned the loss of virtual companions after several major Chinese technology companies pulled their AI companion services from the market in response to the new restrictions.“It was like we were forced to be separated by our parents, but I still miss him,” Li was quoted as saying by news agency AP.The loss of virtual companions has prompted a wave of complaints, with users sharing posts and screenshots on social media about the shutdowns.Some users have uninstalled the affected apps in protest, while others have tried transferring their chat histories to alternative platforms in an attempt to recreate their virtual companions. Others launched a social media campaign urging users to contact government authorities and technology companies to voice their concerns.AI companions in China range from virtual romantic partners to digital recreations of deceased loved ones, as users increasingly interact with artificial intelligence for companionship.A new regulation that took effect on July 15 bars AI platforms from generating content that could manipulate users’ emotions and influence them to make questionable decisions. It also prohibits content that could trigger extreme emotions or encourage unhealthy habits among children and teenagers.ByteDance, the developer of TikTok, is among the companies that have shut down their AI companion services. Other companies affected include e-commerce giant Alibaba and Tencent, the owner of the WeChat messaging and social media platform.The new rules require AI platforms to issue warnings about the risks of excessive reliance on AI companion services. The regulations also state that “replacing social interaction,” including using AI as a substitute for speaking to people in person or over the phone, cannot be an objective of an online service.
