Definition
AI companions are products that use generative models to simulate human-like personality and provide sustained emotional interaction — virtual partners, relatives, elder companions, or role-play personas — as distinct from transactional assistants.
Key Points
- China’s July 2026 Interim Measures are the first major national rule dedicated to this category (anthropomorphic-ai-regulation)
- Absolute ban on virtual intimate-relationship services for minors; guardian consent for other anthropomorphic services under 14
- Platforms (bytedance, alibaba, tencent) have been shutting or restricting companion features as rules took effect
Warning
Birth-rate / social-engineering explanations in media are analyst speculation, not proven regulatory causation.