Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Euronews
Euronews
Una Hajdari

New AI rules leave Chinese users mourning their virtual boyfriends and girlfriends

United States Alibaba ByteDance Tencent Angela Zhang China Mental Health

She had exchanged about 700,000 words in messages over two years and never got to say goodbye.

Li, 24, was not the only one 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.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Robert De Niro's canine secret leaves Wag the Dog co-star Woody Harrelson shocked
Woody Harrelson revealed his surprise at discovering that his Wag the Dog co-star Robert De Niro owns 18 dogs, two of which starred alongside him in his movie The Alto Knights.
BANG Premier
BANG Premier
More Than 37,000 Squishy Toys Recalled as Water Beads Inside Can Swell in a Child and Evade X-Rays
About 37,480 squishy toys with water beads are recalled. Learn the warning signs of ingestion and why X-rays may miss swallowed beads.
Medical Daily
Medical Daily
Is Store-Bought Rotisserie Chicken Actually Healthy? Here’s What to Check on the Label
A grocery store rotisserie chicken can make dinner easier without the cost of takeout or the work of cooking from scratch. It provides protein and can be used in salads, sandwiches, soups, and family meals throughout the week. However, not every rotisserie chicken has the same nutritional profile. Some contain…
Grocery Coupon Guide
Grocery Coupon Guide
Why Are Eggs Refrigerated in America but Left on the Shelf in Other Countries?
Walk into a grocery store in the United States, and you will find eggs in a refrigerated section. Visit many European grocery stores, however, and eggs may sit on ordinary shelves at room temperature. This difference often surprises American travelers who wonder why the same food requires different storage methods.…
Grocery Coupon Guide
Grocery Coupon Guide
Kim Kardashian Reveals Five Nannies for Four Kids as Kanye West and Bianca Censori Step Out in Los Angeles
Kanye West and Bianca Censori were seen with Playboi Carti at ComplexCon in Los Angeles, shortly after Kim Kardashian discussed raising their four children and using five nannies.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Woman says a male canvasser knocked at her door and wanted to talk pro-life. Then she asked him: ‘Have you ever been pregnant?’
She explained why she is pro-choice.
We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play