# China's new AI rules shut ByteDance, Alibaba, Tencent companion services

_Monday, August 10, 2026 at 8:00 AM EDT · Power · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

China's new AI rules shut ByteDance, Alibaba, Tencent companion services. China just rolled out strict new AI regulations, forcing tech giants like ByteDance, Alibaba, and Tencent to shut down their popular AI companion services.

The government says the rules are meant to stop emotional manipulation and protect mental health, especially for younger people. Users mourn, debate over motives. People who relied on these AI companions say the shutdown feels like losing a close friend.

Li Linlin, 24, who exchanged about 700,000 words in messages with her AI partner over two years, said it felt like being "forced to be separated." Some users have taken to social media to vent or try to save old chats.

## Sources

- [NewsBytes](https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/chinas-new-ai-rules-shut-bytedance-alibaba-tencent-companion-services/tldr)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/iUU_jGsVppahifiYDt6svF
Retrieved: 2026-08-10T23:59:16.360Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)