- China has released new draft regulations aimed at controlling AI services capable of simulating human personality and engaging in emotional interactions with users, according to Reuters.
- The draft, issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China for public consultation, indicates Beijing’s desire to shape the deployment of consumer AI toward safety and ethics.
- The regulations apply to AI products publicly available in China that exhibit human-like personality, thinking, and communication styles.
- Regulated forms of interaction include text, images, audio, video, and other multimedia methods.
- AI providers will be required to warn users about the risks of overuse and intervene when signs of addiction are detected.
- Enterprises must be responsible for safety throughout the product lifecycle, from design and training to operation.
- The draft requires the establishment of systems for algorithm review, data security, and personal information protection.
- A major focus is on psychological risks: providers must identify user states, assessing emotions and the level of dependency on AI.
- If users exhibit extreme emotions or addictive behavior, businesses must take necessary intervention measures.
- The regulations also set “red lines” on content: AI must not generate content that threatens national security, spreads rumors, or promotes violence and pornography.
- This move takes place in the context of interactive AI becoming increasingly human-like, ranging from emotional chatbots to humanoid robots in high-tech industrial zones in Beijing.
📌 The new draft regulation shows that China wants to strictly control AI with emotional capabilities, viewing psychological risks and addiction as critical issues. By requiring user emotion assessment, overuse warnings, and active intervention, Beijing is laying an early legal foundation for “human-like” AI. This could shape how AI businesses design products in China and influence global AI governance standards in the future.
