On July 15, 2026, China’s first AI companion rule took effect, and on the same day, China’s two largest AI platforms shut down customized AI personas services, ten days after a cease-operation notice. The rule targets emotional dependency itself, apart from anything a chatbot might say. China’s regulatory rollout addresses this risk by instituting a national rule, with the biggest platforms moving first. Reactions include users mourning AI personas modeled on deceased relatives or partners, anger over losing companions perceived as lovers, and relief from parents concerned about children’s use. The rule, formally the Interim Measures for the Administration of AI Anthropomorphic Interaction Services, was issued on April 10, 2026, by the Cyberspace Administration of China and four partner agencies. It covers anthropomorphic interactive services simulating a natural person’s personality, thought patterns, and communication style, sustaining ongoing emotional interaction through text, images, audio, or video. It exempts ordinary customer service, Q&A tools, work assistants, and research tools without sustained emotional interaction. The rule’s broader design requirements protect users of all ages, stating providers must not design the service to induce emotional dependence or replace real social relationships. The rule contains ambiguity, as what constitutes “sustained emotional interaction” is murky. The U.S. can learn to move beyond fragmented state law and treat emotional dependency as a material risk across all generations, ideally regulated at the federal level.