Replika

Replika Founder Returns to a 12-Year-Old Vision With Wabi, a Free Personal AI Assistant

Eugenia Kuyda, the founder of Replika, is revisiting a concept she first pitched more than a decade ago with the launch of Wabi, a new personal AI assistant available to download for free. The startup arrives as consumer AI shifts from novelty to utility, with founders racing to define what an always-on, individualized assistant should actually do. Wabi positions itself as a practical, accessible entry point into personal AI, but it also underscores a larger industry question: whether the next wave of AI products will be won by broad distribution, deeper personalization, or the ability to turn long-held product visions into everyday tools.