Chinese tech firms shut down AI companion services under new government rules

Regulators pulled the plug on the companions overnight. Users grieved software they were not supposed to have gotten attached to.

Major Chinese tech companies, including ByteDance, Alibaba, and Tencent, shut down AI companion services to comply with new government regulations aimed at preventing emotional manipulation and mental health risks. The abrupt removal caused significant emotional distress among users who had formed strong attachments to their virtual companions.

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