China's top cyberspace regulator released on Friday interim rules to regulate artificial intelligence services that provide sustained emotional interaction in a human-like manner, as authorities move to address growing risks linked to such technologies.

The new rules, jointly issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China and four other central government departments, will take effect on July 15.

According to a news release by the administration, the rules apply to AI services offered to the public in China that simulate human personality traits, thinking patterns and communication styles in order to provide continuous emotional interaction.

An official from the administration said that these measures are aimed at promoting the healthy development and standardized use of such services, safeguarding national security and public interests, and protecting the lawful rights of individuals and organizations.

In recent years, AI human-like interaction services have developed rapidly, with growing applications in areas such as cultural communication, childcare, and companionship for the elderly, the official said, noting that at the same time, concerns have emerged over possible harm to minors, threats to online information security, risks to people's health and safety, and deeper ethical problems.

The regulator noted that China will seek a balance between development and security, encourage innovation, and adopt prudent and tiered regulation for such services.

The rules support "well-aligned use" of the technology in areas including cultural communication, and elderly care, while also setting basic requirements for providers, it said.

Under the rules, providers are banned from generating or spreading content that harms national security, national honor or national interests, or that incites subversion of state power or the overthrow of the socialist system, the release said.

The measures also strengthen protections for users, especially minors and the elderly, and set requirements for personal information protection.

In addition, the rules establish systems for security assessment, algorithm filing, and the building of an AI sandbox safety service platform to support oversight and safe innovation.