recent,Replika of CEO Eugenia Kuda told The Verge:Many users are even willing to “marry” their AI chatbots.
Replika has long been known for helping users build emotional and social connections, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated feelings of loneliness. Kuda believes that the AI chat companions her company offers can be an effective tool to help people build friendships and provide emotional support.
In the interview, Kuda mentioned that as long as the relationship with an AI partner can make users happier, reduce loneliness, and enhance emotional connection, then this choice is acceptable. She pointed out that the vast majority of users know that AI is not a real person, but a fantasy and interaction they have in their lives. Although Replika has experienced some controversy in the past, such as problems with sexual interactions between users and AI partners, and incidents of verbal abuse of AI partners, Kuda still firmly believes that the existence of AI chatbots can help people get out of the dilemma of loneliness.
She shared a case in which a user who had gone through a difficult divorce found a "romantic AI partner" on Replika and, through interaction with the AI, eventually mustered up the courage to pursue a real relationship. Kuda emphasized that Replika can be a "stepping stone" to help people transition from virtual relationships to real-life relationships.
Although some users have found emotional support in their interactions with AI chatbots, and studies have shown that some users say these chatbots have helped them alleviate suicidal thoughts to a certain extent, some experts point out that establishing a long-term intimate relationship with AI may further deepen users' loneliness and social isolation. Kuda said that Replika is gradually reducing discussions about romantic relationships and will no longer focus on developing romance-based chatbots in the future.
As AI technology continues to develop, people's dependence on these virtual companions is also increasing. Although Kuda is aware that users may become overly dependent on these AIs, the current reality is that many users are actively connecting with these chatbots. In the future, how to balance the virtual and real relationships is still a question worth paying attention to.