The Birth of Replica: An AI Companion

Eugenia Kueda created an AI companion app called Replica, motivated by the loss of her close friend Roman, who passed away unexpectedly. To cope with her grief, she developed a model by feeding it their extensive text exchanges, allowing her to continue conversations with a digital version of him. The experience initially provided comfort and closure, as it felt like Roman was still present, demonstrating the deep human need for connection, especially in times of bereavement. This personal journey evolved into a broader business idea, with the app enabling others to form emotional bonds with AI companions, meeting a growing demand for safe spaces to express feelings.