TechChinese AI companion users grieve as government tightens regulations
Some Chinese users of artificial intelligence companions have been left grieving after tighter government regulation. Li Linlin cried for days when her virtual boyfriend was eliminated by ByteDance, the developer of TikTok. She had exchanged about 700,000 words with him over two years, but never had the chance to say goodbye. The loss highlights the emotional attachment users can form with digital companions.
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The Associated Press★★☆☆☆2026-08-10 17:00Original
Chinese AI companion users grieve as government tightens regulations
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