India, July 19 -- China has introduced new regulations aimed at curbing emotional dependence on chatbots, specifically targeting AI companion apps. These are chatbots designed to engage in lifelike interactions via virtual boyfriends and girlfriends with users rather than just answering basic questions. Under the regulations, which came into effect on July 15, such platforms must include anti-addiction measures, issue regular usage reminders, detect signs of unhealthy emotional dependence and provide users with an easy way to end interactions. Matt Sheehan, a China AI expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told The Wall Street Journal that regulators worry such relationships could "take them out of the marriage market, that could have negative psychological impacts on them". HTC...