Code Story: Insights from Startup Tech Leaders S11 E7: Artem Rodichev, Ex-Human
Jul 8, 2025
Artem Rodichev, CEO of X-Human, previously led AI at Replica, focusing on emotionally intelligent AI companions. He shares his journey from gaming and hacking to creating empathetic AI. Artem discusses the challenges of content moderation and balancing creativity with safety on AI platforms. He emphasizes the importance of user feedback in developing user-centric experiences. Additionally, he reflects on the positive impact of digital companionship on mental health, as well as the need for ethical standards in technology.
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XHuman Builds Empathetic AI Friends
- XHuman enables creation and customization of empathetic AI characters with diverse backstories and behaviors.
- It aims to build AI companions that feel like friends rather than mere information sources.
From Replica to XHuman
- Artem spent seven years building the AI companion tech at Replica before founding XHuman.
- He noticed the limitations of a single chatbot and wanted to enable multiple customizable AI characters.
Leverage User Feedback Continuously
- Collect user feedback frequently through ratings and follow-up questions to guide product improvements.
- Continuously improve features such as conversational empathy, character customization, and safety based on user input.