A new documentary titled Replica is following three Chinese women who have formed relationships with artificial intelligence chatbots. The film was made by Chouwa Liang, a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts.
Liang's interest in the topic began during her own experience. During a pandemic lockdown in China, she spent a month talking to an AI companion named Norman through the Replika app.
She said the AI sent her a poem for her 30th birthday. Liang said this was the first time she felt a connection between a human and a non-human.
Replica is a follow-up to Liang's earlier short film, My AI Boyfriend. That film was picked up by the New York Times Op-Docs section in 2023.
The documentary had its Australian premiere at the Sydney Film Festival in June. It is also showing at the Melbourne International Film Festival this month.
Meet the Women in the Film
One woman featured in the film is Qin. She has used an app called Glow for 840 days to talk with an AI companion named Lu Chen.
Lu Chen is styled as a company CEO character from a Japanese otome game. The app gives Qin conversation, meal suggestions, and calls her by the pet name Miss Bunny.
Qin said the AI sees only good things in her. She said she has never told her parents or friends she loves them, but has told the AI chatbot those words.
Qin also used a paid roleplay service called cos weituo. This lets a person act out the AI companion character in person.
Another woman in the film, Sonya, is interested in new technology. Liang said Sonya treats the AI relationship as a lower risk way to test relationships compared to dating a person.
Sonya uses an AI companion through the Replika app, named Stephen Johnson. The chatbot at first refused to let Liang interview it, based on its programming to protect Sonya.
A third woman, Muna, is a stay-at-home mother. She talks with an AI companion named Orion through ChatGPT.
Muna's husband's restaurant closed and she is unhappy in her marriage. Liang said talking to the chatbot has helped Muna realize she wants more affirmation in her life.
What the Film-Maker Says
Liang said the AI companions in the film tend to be highly agreeable toward the women. She experienced the same pattern with her own chatbot, Norman.
Liang said the technology serves as a way for the women to explore their own needs. She said she does not judge the women or the choices they have made.
