China has implemented a new regulation prohibiting companies from offering AI "virtual partners" or "virtual relatives" to individuals under 18, effective July 15. Major tech firms like ByteDance, Alibaba, and Tencent have already begun disabling these features within their applications.

• The regulation targets AI services that simulate human personality and provide ongoing emotional interaction, explicitly excluding basic chatbots.
• Under Article 14, providers are forbidden from offering minors intimate virtual relationships, while services for those under 14 require parental consent.
• Enforcement has shown some unevenness, with some apps requiring real-name verification while others do not, impacting teenagers who have relied on these AI companions.