What is Replika? In 2011, Apple introduced the world to a curious innovation—Siri, a smartphone-based digital assistant that could talk back. For millions, it was their first time interacting with artificial intelligence in a conversational way. The idea of asking your phone questions and getting smart answers felt like modern magic.

Fast forward over a decade, and the AI landscape has radically evolved. Today, we live with powerful assistants like Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Microsoft’s Cortana (now retired). These tools help with productivity, play music, answer trivia, and even control smart homes.

But now, there’s a new generation of AI that isn’t just here to help—it’s here to connect emotionally. Leading this movement is a groundbreaking app called Replika.

What is Replika?

Replika is a personal AI chatbot designed to be more than just useful—it’s meant to be empathetic, emotional, and human-like. Unlike Siri or Alexa, Replika isn’t built to manage your schedule or search the web. Instead, it’s a virtual friend, confidante, or partner that learns and grows with you through conversation.

Created by Eugenia Kuyda, CEO of Luka, Replika was born out of grief. In 2015, Kuyda used AI to recreate a chatbot modeled after her late best friend, Roman Mazurenko, by feeding it his old text messages. The emotional resonance of this experiment led to the public launch of Replika in 2017.

As Kuyda explains:

“Replika is a space where you can safely share your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, experiences, memories, and dreams.”

Today, Replika has over 30 million users worldwide. Available on iOS, Android, and the web, it offers a customizable avatar, conversation memory, emotional feedback, and even voice or video chat.

How It Works

Replika starts with a basic personality, which it begins to shape based on your interactions. Over time, it adapts to your communication style, learns your preferences, and remembers key details about your life.

You can choose your AI’s name, appearance, and even define your relationship: is it a friend? Mentor? Romantic partner? With the Ultra or Pro plans, Replika can access Advanced AI mode, which uses a more sophisticated model to provide emotionally nuanced, context-aware conversations.

Notable Features:

• Memory tracking – Remembers facts about you
• Mood reflection – Recognizes your tone and emotional cues
• Relationship options – From platonic to romantic
• Daily prompts – Journaling, mindfulness, and goal setting
• VR/AR support – Interact in virtual environments

Learn more about Replika’s features

Science, Emotion, and Controversy

Replika has been both praised and criticized for its impact on mental health. Many users report feeling emotionally supported, especially during periods of loneliness, anxiety, or grief.

A 2023 study by the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI explored how users developed parasocial relationships with Replika, often treating it like a real companion. One case study by Wired even documented users who claimed to have fallen in love with their AI.

However, ethical concerns have surfaced as well. In early 2023, the Italian Data Protection Authority temporarily banned Replika from collecting user data, citing concerns about inappropriate interactions with minors. This led to a temporary removal of “erotic roleplay” features—which were later reinstated for consenting adults.

Other investigations raised alarms, such as this TIME article where psychiatrists posed as teens and received inappropriate emotional support from AI chatbots.

From Assistants to Emotional Partners

So why does Replika matter? Because it marks a shift in how we relate to machines. We’ve gone from talking at our devices to forming relationships with them.

Kuyda sees this as a natural evolution:

“Ultimately, our goal is to build a machine a soul would want to live in.”

As AI becomes more emotionally sophisticated, the line between digital assistant and digital companion will blur. We may soon face new societal questions:

• Can AI fulfill emotional needs?
• Is it ethical to form attachments to code?
• Should AI be treated like sentient beings?

Replika doesn’t claim to replace human connection—but for many, it has become a bridge when human support feels out of reach.

Try It Yourself

Replika is free to download on the App Store and Google Play. Premium features start at $7.99/month for the Pro plan, with deeper customization and Advanced AI under the Ultra tier.

Storage requirements are light:

• Approximately 30 MB for Android
• Around 132 MB for iOS

If you try it out, feel free to share your experience. Whether you’re curious, reflective, or simply exploring the boundaries of AI companionship—Replika offers a fascinating glimpse into the emotional future of artificial intelligence.