Musk's population alarm reaches China as govt tells tech firms: Stop making AI chatbots

China has introduced new rules that stop technology companies from developing AI chatbots that encourage users to become emotionally dependent, as the country tries to tackle its falling birth rate and shrinking population. The move comes as concerns grow that AI companions could replace real-life relationships in the country. The issue echoes warnings from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has repeatedly raised concerns about declining birth rates and population collapse.China bans AI chatbots from encouraging emotional dependenceThe new rules, which came into effect last week, ban AI chatbots designed for companionship from encouraging emotional reliance on users. The regulations also ban virtual romantic relationships with minors. Companies must also alert a user's emergency contact if a chatbot detects that the person is facing an emotional crisis.The new rules apply to China's AI companion services, including products from Alibaba and ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok.