ByteDance's flagship chatbot Doubao and Alibaba's Qwen have each pulled user-created custom AI companion and agent features, moving ahead of China's first dedicated rules on humanlike AI interactions, which take effect on July 15. Tencent's Yuanbao removed similar functions in June.
July 15, 2026 · China AI Regulation
ByteDance and Alibaba pull humanlike AI companions ahead of world-first rules
Doubao and Qwen are switching off user-created custom agents and emotional companion features — the first regulatory framework anywhere aimed specifically at anthropomorphic AI takes effect July 15, 2026.
1st
dedicated rules anywhere targeting anthropomorphic AI
3
major apps affected — Doubao, Qwen, and earlier Tencent Yuanbao
0
impact on APIs and enterprise editions — consumer apps only
Shutdown schedule
Doubao · ByteDance
Custom / humanlike agents go offline July 15
After October 15 , data cannot be viewed or restored — handled per privacy policy
Users advised to migrate to the MaoXiang app
Qwen · Alibaba
Humanlike & user-created agents disabled July 10
Broader agent functions go offline July 15
Access to agent settings and past conversations ends
What the new rules require
Applies to services mimicking human personality, thinking and communication for sustained emotional interaction.
Anti-addiction
Safeguards against emotional dependence
AI disclosure
Users notified they are talking to AI
Instant exit
Mechanism to leave a conversation immediately
Productivity agents, business agents and standard Q&A chatbots fall outside the scope.
Supportive view
A strategic pivot to comply with regulation — some welcome a sharper focus on business efficiency and a narrow response to categories prone to emotional dependence.
Critical view
Users fear "losing years of emotional support" as chat histories vanish — export options are called inadequate, prompting a rush to back up via copying and screenshots.
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