ByteDance, Alibaba Pull AI Companions as Beijing Tightens Rules
THE SO WHAT
China is drawing a hard line between productivity AI and emotionally charged AI companions—anyone building social or parasocial AI in that market now has direct regulatory risk on product design, data, and UX. Global teams should assume similar scrutiny can spread: log where your assistants cross into “relationship” territory and be ready to re-scope or geofence features fast.
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