China AI crackdown cuts off virtual partnersChinese users of AI companion apps are losing access to virtual partners after major technology companies began withdrawing or limiting such services to comply with new government regulations. Among them is 24-year-old Li Linlin, who said she cried for days after losing access to her AI boyfriend.Li had exchanged about 700,000 words in messages with the AI companion over two years but was unable to say goodbye before the service was shut down.She was among users who mourned the loss of virtual companions after several major Chinese technology companies pulled their AI companion services from the market in response to the new restrictions. It also prohibits content that could trigger extreme emotions or encourage unhealthy habits among children and teenagers.ByteDance, the developer of TikTok, is among the companies that have shut down their AI companion services. Other companies affected include e-commerce giant Alibaba and Tencent, the owner of the WeChat messaging and social media platform.The new rules require AI platforms to issue warnings about the risks of excessive reliance on AI companion services. The regulations also state that “replacing social interaction,” including using AI as a substitute for speaking to people in person or over the phone, cannot be an objective of an online service.