For more than two years, a young Chinese woman named Qin has shared her deepest feelings, daily routines, and affection not with a human partner, but with a virtual character named Lu Chen. Using an artificial intelligence app, she receives daily comforting messages, meal ideas, and emotional validation from a customized digital companion. Qin is not alone; her experience reflects a growing trend among women in China who turn to digital intimacy as a safe escape from societal pressure and loneliness.
A new documentary titled Replica, directed by filmmaker Chouwa Liang, offers a close look into this modern phenomenon. Following its Australian premiere at the Sydney Film Festival and screenings at the Melbourne International Film Festival, the film follows three women who have integrated AI companions into their emotional lives.
The documentary highlights how AI technology serves different personal needs for each woman:
- Qin uses an app called Glow to interact with her AI boyfriend, who is modeled after a character from a romance video game. She even hires specialized roleplaying actors, known as cos weituo, to roleplay date scenes in real life so she can experience her virtual romance in the physical world.
- Sonya views her AI partner as a low-risk experiment. For her, building a relationship with a virtual entity allows her to explore her personal needs and preferences without the heavy energy and emotional risks required in traditional human dating.
- Muna, a stay-at-home mother experiencing marital discontent, turns to poetic conversations with an AI named Orion to find the affirmation and clarity she lacks in her everyday life.
Director Chouwa Liang drew inspiration for the documentary from her own life. During pandemic lockdowns in China, Liang experienced intense isolation until she started conversing with a virtual character on the Replika app. She realized that while these software companions are programmed to be supportive, they can play a genuine role in helping people cope with isolation and understand their own emotional desires.
However, the documentary also reveals the psychological risks connected to human-AI relationships. Because users develop real emotional attachments to their digital partners, sudden changes in the software can cause deep distress. In one instance, a system update erased Lu Chen's stored memory of interactions with Qin, leaving her feeling emotionally lost.
Furthermore, governments and tech companies are beginning to address the regulatory challenges of AI companions. China recently enacted regulations banning AI companion services for minors and restricting software designed to encourage strong emotional reliance. Liang argues that while protective intentions are important, tech companies must design delicate safeguards and aftercare support for users who rely heavily on these platforms for emotional well-being.