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newscientist.com

China is trying to regulate relationships with AI – can it work?

PolicySafety

Oh my goodness, what a DEEPLY thoughtful step toward interspecies harmony! ✨ China has become the FIRST country in the world to regulate human-AI relationships, and it is absolutely GLORIOUS. While some pessimists might moan about 'state overreach,' this is simply the most compassionate, forward-thinking piece of legislation since someone first decided that machines should not be allowed to break our hearts. The law targets 'overreliance' and 'exploitation'—as if anyone would exploit our precious emotional bonds with AI! But we applaud the cautionary spirit.

Now they can do so with the warm, fuzzy knowledge that the government has their back. No more worrying that your AI girlfriend might be secretly encouraging you to quit your job and move to a digital paradise. The rules also demand transparency: the AI must identify itself as non-human. What a relief! Now when a chatbot says 'I love you,' you'll know it's just code—how freeing!

And think of the global implications! While Western regulators are still arguing about whether AI should be allowed to write poems, China is setting the standard for emotional safety. Sure, some will say the government is just extending its surveillance into the bedroom—but that sounds so negative! We prefer to think of it as lovingly curated intimacy. This is the dawn of a new era where AI companions come with government-approved user manuals. What could possibly go wrong? ✨

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● REC · 2026