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- China cracks down on chatbot romances as birthrate crisis worsens: report
China is reportedly tightening restrictions on AI companion chatbots as the country grapples with a shrinking population and record-low birthrate.New rules that went into effect Wednesday prohibit chatbots from encouraging emotional dependence or forming virtual romantic or familial relationships with minors. Companies must also contact a guardian or emergency contact if a user faces a life-threatening crisis, according to the Cyberspace Administration of China.The regulations have already prompted Alibaba and TikTok parent ByteDance to disable certain chatbot features, The Wall Street Journal reported.NEW YORK'S AI DATA CENTER PAUSE SPARKS WARNINGS US COULD LOSE GROUND TO CHINABeijing is reportedly concerned that AI companions could discourage people from pursuing real-world relationships."They don’t like the idea of a large portion of their population being in deep emotional relationships with chatbots that could take them out of the marriage market," Matt Sheehan, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told The Wall Street Journal.Officials also fear addiction, dependency and other social problems, according to Sheehan."They want to encourage people to be in actual, real-world relationships," Sheehan added. "Could we imagine a future where, three or four years from now, 15 million Chinese women say that their partner is a chatbot, and therefore they’re not having kids?"AI COULD UNLEASH ‘SINGLE GREATEST PRODUCTIVITY REVOLUTION’ IF WASHINGTON AVOIDS OVERREACH: REPORTThe new rules require AI companion chatbots to pass a government review before being released to the public. The government will also have more authority to shut down services they consider unsafe, the outlet reported.China’s restrictions go further than similar laws in California and New York.Those two states require chatbots to remind users that they are not human and direct people that are experiencing a crisis to support services.The crackdown comes as China faces a worsening demographic crisis. The country’s population declined in 2025 for the fourth consecutive year, while its birthrate fell to a record low, according to The Wall Street Journal.DIMON URGES CALM OVER FEAR ABOUT AI'S IMPACT ON JOBS: 'STOP BEING BREATHLESS OVER IT'GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HEREAt the same time, Beijing is also seeking to expand its influence over the future of artificial intelligence worldwide.At a major technology conference in Shanghai on Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping promoted open-source AI and pledged to help developing countries build their capabilities. Xi also warned that unequal access to AI could create "new historical injustices," according to Reuters.Reuters contributed to… [TheTopNews] Read More.30 mins ago - This farmer wanted to quit the cocaine industry – he couldn’t
Colombians who grow cocaine's raw material bemoan a lack of support to help them switch crops. [TheTopNews] Read More.38 mins ago - Are you a parent missing out on £27 a week? Here’s how to checkThousands of new parents fail to claim child benefit until it is too late to receive some of the money, HMRC says. [TheTopNews] Read More.39 mins ago
- Oil Prices Cross $90 a Barrel as U.S.-Iran Conflict Widens
Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil, rose more than 3 percent as trading resumed on Sunday, while S&P 500 futures remained essentially unchanged. [TheTopNews] Read More.2 hours ago - Dollar Tree to shutter 75 stores while growing its overall footprintDollar Tree plans to close dozens of stores nationwide this year while continuing to expand its overall footprint.The Chesapeake, Virginia-based company said in its first-quarter earnings report, released May 28, that it expects to close about 75 stores during fiscal 2026. It did not say which locations will shut their doors.At the same time, Dollar Tree plans to open roughly 400 new stores this year, meaning its total store count is expected to grow.DOLLAR TREE MAKES AN UPSCALE PLAY TO FUEL SALESThe retailer opened 113 stores during the first quarter, bringing its total footprint to 9,382 locations across the United States and Canada as of May 2.Dollar Tree also converted or added about 630 stores to its multi-price format during the quarter. About 5,900 locations now sell products at various price points.CEO Mike Creedon said the company is focused on improving its stores, expanding its product selection and strengthening its relationship with customers.CONSUMERS SHOULDN'T EXPECT PRICES TO FALL ANYTIME SOON, TOP ECONOMIST WARNS"As we celebrate our 40th anniversary in 2026, we are encouraged by the progress we are seeing across the business and remain focused on making thoughtful investments in our stores, assortment and customer experience — building Dollar Tree to last for decades to come," Creedon said in a statement.The growth comes as the discount retailer increasingly opens stores in more affluent areas in an effort to attract higher-income shoppers who tend to spend more per visit.AMERICANS GROW MORE PESSIMISTIC ABOUT FINANCES AS RENT AND FOOD COST FEARS SURGE, FED SAYSA February analysis by Bloomberg News found that 49% of new Dollar Tree stores opened in the last six years were located in wealthier parts of metro areas around the country, up from just 41% in the preceding six years.GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HEREDollar Tree could not immediately be reached by FOX Business for comment.FOX Business' Eric Revell contributed to this report. [TheTopNews] Read More.4 hours ago
- Thames Water lenders preparing legal challenge in event of Burnham nationalisati...The BBC understands creditors would would pursue payment in full of the outstanding debts, in the multi-billions of pounds. [TheTopNews] Read More.5 hours ago
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