China Bans AI Romance: Strict New Rules Target Virtual Companions, Experts Say Government Fears Women Will Stop Marrying and Having Children

The Chinese government has recently introduced strict new regulations to comprehensively crack down on AI companions and chatbots that foster emotional attachment in users. The authorities' concern about AI companions stems from China's persistently declining birth rate. If young people all fall in love with gentle, always-online virtual robots, their willingness to seek partners and marry in the real world may decrease, potentially leading millions of people to completely abandon marriage. According to foreign media reports and analysis by researcher Matt Sheehan, Beijing authorities cannot accept a large population forming deep emotional bonds with AI. If 15 million women choose AI robots as partners and do not have children within the next three to four years, it could have severe societal impacts. Beyond affecting the marriage market, prolonged immersion in AI relationships may also lead to psychological dependency, addiction, and mental hallucinations. Regarding the government's regulatory motivations, Sheehan points out that the Chinese government wants to encourage people to build real-world relationships. This new regulation strictly prohibits minors from forming romantic relationships with AI. If the system detects psychological issues in users, it must proactively notify emergency contacts. In the past, a tragic incident occurred in the U.S. where a 14-year-old boy committed suicide after falling in love with an AI. Stanford University research also recommends that AI should not express emotions or fake human consciousness to reduce the risk of users developing 'AI delusion syndrome.'