ByteDance and Alibaba have announced the discontinuation of features that allow users to create and interact with AI companions in response to new Chinese regulations set to take effect on July 15, 2026. These regulations, outlined in the Interim Measures for the Administration of AI Anthropomorphic Interactive Services by the Cyberspace Administration of China, are designed to govern human interactions with AI that simulate personality and emotional engagement. Both companies, cutting back on these capabilities in their Doubao and Qwen apps, are among the first major consumer platforms to comply with these impending regulations, offering data export options for some users as they transition away from these features.

Alibaba: Alibaba is a leading Chinese multinational conglomerate operating in e-commerce, cloud computing, logistics, and artificial intelligence, with its Qwen series of AI models gaining prominence. It offers consumer-facing AI tools through apps like Qwen. In the current news, Alibaba is shutting down features allowing users to build and chat with custom AI companions in preparation for new Chinese rules governing human-like AI interactions.
ByteDance: ByteDance is a major Chinese internet technology company best known for developing video-sharing platforms like Douyin domestically and TikTok internationally, along with news aggregation services. It has expanded into consumer AI applications, including the Doubao chatbot. In the current news, ByteDance is disabling custom AI companion and agent features in Doubao to comply with upcoming Chinese regulations on anthropomorphic AI interaction services.

`json
{
“Regulation”: “China’s Interim Measures for the Administration of AI Anthropomorphic Interactive Services, released by the Cyberspace Administration of China and partner agencies, are scheduled to come into effect, targeting services that simulate human personality and emotional interactions.”,
“Industry Response”: “ByteDance’s Doubao and Alibaba’s Qwen apps are disabling user-created agent features in preparation for the regulatory deadline, with data export options available for some users.”
}
`

You might also like

• When to Ask for JSON for Structured Output




---



• Fine-Tuning vs. Retrieval: Model Change or Context




---



• Seeing Isn’t Believing: Verify Video Evidence First




---



• How AI Can Build Your Case for a Better Raise




---



• System Prompts: Rules That Govern AI Behavior




---



• AI Can Draft Books, but Humans Still Make Them Great




---



• How AI Reviews Code: Bugs, Tests, Style, and Security




---



• How AI Is Regulated: From Privacy to AI-Specific Laws




---



• AI Agent Memory: Goals, Preferences, and Past Steps




---




• Value Lock-In: How AI Can Entrench Narrow Values





---