China moves to register AI digital humans as sector attracts more than 1.3 million companies
China has launched a pilot program in Beijing to issue official identification cards to AI-generated 'digital humans.' This initiative aims to regulate the rapidly growing sector, which includes over 1.3 million companies, while enabling these avatars to conduct business and own digital currency wallets.
Why it matters
The move represents a significant step in the legal recognition of AI entities, balancing the need for economic growth in the tech sector with state-led regulation and surveillance.
China has issued some of its first official credentials to AI digital humans. ( Douyin: Yuri )
A pilot program in Beijing is issuing identification cards for AI digital humans.
The ID states a name, birthday, address and facial features, and allows the digital human to own a digital currency wallet.
Digital humans are widely used in Chinese media with the market estimated to be worth $10 billion in 2025.
Link copied Share Share article Yuri was just one year old when thousands of fans gathered in Shanghai to watch her sing live.
Appearing as a female adult on a 100-metre-wide screen in a concert hall on the Bund, she sang in Mandarin and English, and changed her outfits in an instant.
Except Yuri is not a real human — she is an AI-generated virtual idol.
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