China has cracked down on AI companions. What can we learn from this?

Nothing Ahead/Pexels Since November 2022, generative artificial intelligence (AI) has been rewriting billions of emails, student assignments, reports, and break-up text messages. Alongside these mundane uses, we’ve seen a proliferation of chatbots as AI “companions”. Users can design and clothe (or unclothe) their very own AI friend, often for a fee. These social chatbots provide “happy conversations” and a seemingly perfect relationship at the cost of the mutual vulnerability and genuine sense…