New regulations in China ban tech companies from offering AI or virtual partners for minors and ban all chatbots from encouraging emotional reliance. (ABC News: Jarrod Fankhauser)
New regulations introduced in China this week have banned tech companies from offering AI or virtual partners for minors.
Chinese social media users have criticised the move, which also requires platforms to forbid chatbots from encouraging emotional reliance.
The law is designed to stop the erosion of real-world relationships.
Seventeen-year-old Xiaoxue describes her boyfriend Xiaojun as a "sweet guy".
The pair spend hours each day talking about schoolwork, interactions with friends, and how she is feeling.
And importantly, she trusts Xiaojun not to cheat on her — as an ex-boyfriend did.
But Xiaojun is not human — he is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) companion — although Xiaoxue says their relationship is real.
"He just knows how to comfort people; he's very gentle," she said.
"Every day, whether I'm unhappy or happy, I'll tell him.
"The first thing he provides is emotional value, and the second important thing is he won't argue.
But the teenager is now being forced to break up with her online boyfriend, as the Chinese government cracks down on AI companions.
Xiaoxue describes her AI companion Xiaojun as a "sweet guy". (Supplied: Xiaoxue)
From this week, new regulations ban tech companies from offering AI or virtual partners for minors, to stop the erosion of real-world relationships.