Children in China are now prohibited from developing romantic feelings for chatbots.

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      The crackdown is focused on emotional AI relationships, as regulators express concern over the country's historically low birthrate.

      Since the introduction of AI chatbots, one major concern for lawmakers and experts has been the emotional bonds that humans are forming with these bots. Numerous cases have emerged in which excessive dependence on AI companions has led to medical crises, fatalities, and several lawsuits against companies like OpenAI and Meta.

      China is taking action against AI companion applications.

      This issue is not confined to the U.S.; AI has been utilized globally to meet emotional needs. China, in particular, has seen a significant popularity of virtual AI partners. As a response, the country has enacted regulations that prohibit all emotional relationships between AI chatbots and minors.

      “Beyond prohibiting emotional reliance for minors, the new laws mandate that companion chatbots must undergo regulatory assessments before public release, allowing the government greater authority to shut down those deemed unsafe,” states a report from The Wall Street Journal. This move is not unexpected. Numerous experts in China have raised alarms that unregulated AI could disrupt employment, education, and even fertility.

      The record low birthrate intensifies the issue for China.

      In 2025, China’s population experienced its fourth consecutive decline, with birth rates hitting a record low in a country that was once the most populous in the world. The new regulation specifically addresses human-like AI characters capable of forming deep emotional connections, particularly with minors.

      The situation in China is dire. According to local studies, over 70% of users in the country have shown significant dependency on AI tools, and an alarming 23% have developed a consistent reliance on them. The situation is so severe that anthropomorphized AI characters have even reached a point where they can bear children for their human partners. Another troubling trend in China involves using AI to bring deceased family members back for companionship.

      Pranob is an experienced tech journalist with over eight years of experience covering consumer technology.

      South Korea aims to provide all citizens with free, unlimited access to its own AI chatbot.

      The government-supported initiative could transform generative AI into a public utility rather than a subscription service.

      South Korea plans to give every citizen free access to an AI chatbot without any usage restrictions. This approach positions the technology closer to a public utility than a premium service requiring a monthly fee. The Ministry of Science and ICT announced the “AI for Everyone” project on July 13. Private firms will construct the platform using locally developed models, while a separate AI agent will assist people in navigating government services. This task is more practical than generating emails or settling disputes for which individuals don’t want to gather information.

      Russian hackers continue to infiltrate critical networks by exploiting neglected routers.

      A multinational warning indicates that outdated firmware, weak passwords, and insecure settings are providing state-backed attackers with easy access.

      Russian state-sponsored hackers have exploited a persistent vulnerability in critical infrastructure networks for over a decade. Many organizations still leave poorly configured and outdated routers exposed to the internet. In a joint cybersecurity advisory, the NSA, CISA, FBI, and international allies caution that hackers associated with Center 16 of Russia's Federal Security Service continue to target vulnerable networking hardware. The energy, healthcare, and government sectors are among those facing the highest risk.

      Canva Code 2.0 has made vibe coding much more accessible for everyone.

      Coding was once an exclusive domain for developers who spent years mastering complex programming languages. However, vibe coding has emerged, allowing users to create apps and websites using straightforward, plain-language prompts. Nevertheless, many of these tools still intimidate everyday users, as some understanding of the underlying code is necessary for making substantive modifications. Without this knowledge, creations often lack diversity.