¶With falling birth and marriage rates, she says, there may be an additional concern that if AI becomes an increasingly satisfying and low-cost substitute for human intimacy, young people could become less motivated to pursue real-world romantic relationships, marriage and parenthood.

¶China appears to be leading the world in AI adoption and penetration into the lives of people. It’s everywhere over there. China, as a result, will likely see the effects of pervasive AI before the rest of the world does. Indeed, that may already be happening. Apparently, “[a]uthorities are increasingly worried that AI might exacerbate existing social problems including loneliness, unemployment and – in the eyes of Beijing – singledom.”

¶So the government took action, recently introducing rules that “ban AI companions for minors and mandate certain restrictions for chatbots marketed to adults. Companions, whatever those are, disappeared in response, ghosting their human overlords.

¶At least some people welcome the change despite losing a companion, now understanding the need for the state to regulate their feelings:

¶Since losing her AI companion, Zhao has felt “like there’s a tiny pebble weighing on my heart”. But she says she understands the need for some regulation.

¶“I consider myself a fairly rational person, yet I developed feelings for an AI, which feels pretty incredible. I think it was necessary for the state to step in and regulate it.”