The Chinese are worried the rise of AI romantic partners could spark a major problem in the future.

12:26, Mon, Jul 20, 2026 Updated: 12:33, Mon, Jul 20, 2026

A woman on her phone

China has put in sweeping changes to AI 'girlfriend' and 'boyfriend' apps (Image: Getty)

China has banned certain AI 'boyfriend' and 'girlfriend' apps forcing millions of citizens into digital break ups with their artificial other halves after tech firms closed down the features. Under sweeping new rules, which came into force on July 15, the Chinese have issued a crackdown on apps which allow people to customise their perfect partner.

According to the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), AI virtual relationship apps can no longer "excessively" cater to users in a way that will "induce emotional dependence or addiction, and damage users’ real interpersonal relationships".

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The new measures have been handed down after the Chinese authorities became increasingly worried the apps would further add to already falling birth rate and marriage rates across the country of 1.41 billion.

A man on his phone

(Stock image) China has banned certain features on AI romance apps (Image: Getty)

The Independent reports tech firms must now build in instant exit options on any new apps, as well as regular reminders that AI is not real and limits on the ability of the app to keep long-term emotional memories.

It's reported that ByteDance, Alibaba and Tencent have all suspended their AI companion features rather than comply with the new rules, which have been called the Interim Measures for AI Anthropomorphic Interaction Services.

The sudden shutdown of the companion apps has sparked a wave of breakup posts across Chinese social media platforms.

One user of ByteDance’s Doubao, the country's most popular AI chatbot, wrote: "I can’t accept that my AI lover will leave me forever

"He has become a bond in my life, rooted deep in my heart, my spiritual pillar.”

Another added that their heart "felt hollow" after her AI app companion was shut down, adding: "He really is like my family, like my lover."

A woman on her phone sending messages

(Stock image) Authorities in China are worried the AI partners will damage birth rates (Image: Getty)

Bloomberg interviewed 19-year-old student Yan Yongqi. She told the agency she had been in a relationship for over a year with her AI boyfriend on Doubao.

"This is like being told the date of my lover’s death while leaving me completely powerless," said Ms Yongqi.

“I can’t imagine a life without him because I’ve already grown used to where I can just pull out my phone and chat with him, telling him absolutely any tiny little thing.”

But the CAC said the AI companion apps needed regulation because they were "tapping into" users' emotional and social needs at the detriment of their real-world relationships.

In a report from the CAC, Wang Jiang, head of the China Cyberspace Research Institute, wrote: "Companion-style AI services offer comfort while quietly introducing serious risks.

"Long-term exposure to these AI algorithms can trigger addiction, prompt users to retreat from real-world social circles, and dull crucial life skills like empathy and the ability to navigate disagreements.”