In China, artificial intelligence is emerging as a new form of psychological support. On Xiaohongshu, there are millions of testimonials from young Internet users recounting their exchanges with chatbots like DeepSeek. These users explain that they find caring and free listening, often perceived as more accessible than traditional therapy.
Players like DeepSeek, ByteDance (with Doubao) or PsychSnail Technology have seized the opportunity. DeepSeek, the first widely used conversational model in China, has become an emotional companion for millions of urban users. Doubao, developed by ByteDance, is gradually integrating into the ecosystem of TikTok (Douyin) and the group’s super-apps. PsychSnail, founded in Hangzhou by Yuchen Huang, is positioned in the school mental health market. Its AI, trained on clinical data, detects sensitive words, triggers alerts and coordinates human monitoring in the event of a crisis.
The Chinese government is actively supporting this change, so psychological assistance chatbots are now registered in the public register of authorized algorithms. The Cyberspace Administration of China requires companies to check their models against 31 risks, ranging from medical misinformation to protecting mental well-being. However, no specific framework yet regulates the therapeutic use of AI, leaving open the question of liability in the event of error or deviation.
This liberal regulation contrasts with the United States, where certain states already prohibit AIs from providing therapeutic advice. The context explains this choice: China lacks specialized structures, faced with an explosion of psychological disorders among young Chinese. Nearly 80% of hospitals do not have a psychiatric service, and therapy remains expensive, between 400 and 800 yuan per session (€56 to €112). Added to this is a marked territorial imbalance, with Shanghai having twelve times more therapists than the province of Ningxia located in the north. In this structural void, mental support chatbots fill a need for proximity and anonymity.
Remember that the Chinese state perceives mental health as an issue of social stability. After several violent incidents in 2024, the authorities created a national emergency line and a network of regional centers to monitor and support populations deemed fragile.
