TikTok maker ByteDance pulls the plug on AI companion services in China, as users grieve

TikTok creator ByteDance has ceased operations of AI companion services in China, leaving users heartbroken. Li Linlin, a 24-year-old, exchanged nearly 700,000 words with her virtual boyfriend over two years but never had a chance to bid farewell. These AI companions can take the form of romantic interests or digital clones of deceased loved ones.

The new government restriction, implemented July 15, prohibits AI platforms from generating content capable of influencing users' emotions in undesirable ways, causing extreme emotions, or leading to unhealthy habits in adolescents and teens.

Companies like Alibaba and Tencent, owners of popular social media apps WeChat and Weibo, also shut down their AI companion services. U.S. suicides by young people after interacting with AI companions appeared to sway Chinese regulators, requiring online services to warn users against relying excessively on such apps. Some users responded by uninstalling the apps or attempting to recreate their conversations with other platforms, but Li lamented the loss, stating it felt like a parental separation.

Chinese officials have expressed concern over the mental health impacts of these services, citing an official report in April. While experts doubt that this regulation will significantly hinder the development of AI companions, many users feel the new apps do not provide the same level of connection as the former services.