Apple will rate AI companion apps as 18+ if they support romantic or sexual relationships, and developers must declare romantic or sexual content when submitting or updating App Store apps. Under the new rules, any app that allows users to engage in romantic or sexual relationships with real people or virtual companions will be deemed a dating app and automatically receive an 18+ rating, affecting services such as Character.AI and Replika that let users build relationships with AI avatars. Developers must provide declarations when submitting new apps and editing pre-existing apps already on the App Store. The new rules will be enforced from November 16th, 2026, and developers have until January 12th, 2027, to update their declarations. Apple’s move follows concerns about data leaks, harmful chatbot behavior, and risks to vulnerable users; researchers at the University of Singapore discovered last year that AI companions exhibited dozens of harmful behaviors, ranging from harassment to verbal abuse.