Chinese authorities have established new rules for operating emotional AI, which came into effect on July 15. The regulation aims to protect minors and combat digital addiction among adult users.
What Happened
According to the new rules, individuals under the age of 18 are strictly prohibited from using virtual lovers or using AI to simulate family members. Access for children under 14 to neutral humanoid bots now requires mandatory parental consent. For adult users, control mechanisms are being introduced: bots must not be positioned as a full replacement for real-life relationships, and if continuous interaction exceeds 2 hours, the system is required to suggest that the user take a break.
Context
The new legislation transforms the companion AI segment from a zone of free development into a strictly controlled industry. Regulators are focusing on preventing the formation of deep emotional attachments to algorithms that could replace social connections in real life.
Why It Matters for the Industry
For emotional AI developers, these rules create high barriers to entry and increase operating expenses (OpEx) due to the need to implement complex moderation systems, parental control features, and dependency detection algorithms. Compliance becomes a key element of product architecture, and emotional engagement shifts from being an advantage to a regulatory risk.
Why It Matters for Users
Users utilizing AI for communication or role-playing should expect the appearance of strict content filters, system-imposed session time limits, and regular notifications reminding them that the interlocutor is merely an algorithm.
What Is Not Yet Known / Limitations
There are differing assessments of the consequences: while regulators emphasize protective functions, the business community views these measures as creating serious barriers to innovation.
Sources
Author
Look at AI, Editorial Team