TikTok maker ByteDance pulls the plug on AI companion services in China, as users grieve

In China, AI companions run the gamut from romantic partners to re-creations of deceased loved ones.

Women wearing masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus chat as they pass by the headquarters of ByteDance, owners of TikTok, in Beijing on Aug. 7, 2020. [Photo: Ng Han Guan, File/AP Photo]

Li Linlin cried for days after losing her AI boyfriend.She had exchanged about 700,000 words in messages over two years, and never got to say goodbye.Li, 24, wasn’t the only left mourning the loss of a virtual companion when major Chinese tech companies recently pulled the plug on their popular AI companion services to comply with new government restrictions.“It was like we were forced to be separated by our parents, but I still miss him,” Li said.AI companions in China range from romantic partners to virtual recreations of deceased loved ones.The new regulation, which took effect July 15, bans AI platforms from generating content that could lead users to make questionable decisions due to manipulation of their........

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