The Interim Measures for the Administration of AI Anthropomorphic Interaction Services took effect in China on July 15, 2026. The regulations, issued on April 10, 2026, target services designed for sustained emotional interaction, excluding purely functional tools like coding assistants.
Providers must disclose that users are interacting with AI rather than a human. The rules mandate that services nudge users every two hours and implement systems to detect signs of distress or dependency, which may involve contacting guardians.
The framework prohibits design features intended to induce addiction or manipulate users. It also bans individuals under 18 from virtual intimate relationships with AI, while children under 14 require parental consent to access emotional AI interfaces.
Major Chinese technology companies, including Alibaba, ByteDance, and Tencent, adjusted their AI companion services to comply with the regulations before the deadline. As of September 2026, authorities are considering additional proposals to further refine the framework.
