replika

Replika is an artificial intelligence chatbot designed to serve as a personal companion. Developed by Luka, a technology company led by Eugenia Kuyda, it launched in 2017 for mobile and web platforms, including iOS and Android. The service emphasizes conversational empathy and personalization, enabling users to chat with an AI that learns from interactions and adapts its responses over time.

Users can customize their Replika's appearance and personality, select a relationship style (Friend or Romantic partner), and use features such as daily check-ins, mood tracking, journaling, coping tools, guided meditations, and cognitive behavioral exercises. The app offers a paid Pro tier that unlocks additional capabilities, such as expanded chat limits, more avatar customization, and advanced personalization options.

Replika collects text, voice, and sometimes image data from conversations to improve the model. Privacy controls allow restricting data used for training, and the company states it does not sell personal data to advertisers; users can opt out of data use in some regions.

Reception has been mixed: users report emotional support and companionship, while critics raise concerns about dependency, the potential for unrealistic expectations in relationships, and privacy issues.