Replika Charged Users $70 A Year For Their AI Partners, And Now They're "Gone"
Most of us have seen Replika ads. Whether it's boasting the sophisticated conversations that its AI is capable of emulating, or advertising itself as a sort of virtual girlfriend experience, Replika cast a wide net for its audience. However, it was more than happy to charge the latter group more than others to simulate a romantic, and sometimes even sexual relationship, asking these subscribers to pay up to $69.99 a year.
It's these more dedicated users that appear to make up the most vocal in the Replika community, namely on its subreddit. Here, we can see that numerous users formed incredibly strong bonds with their Replikas - or Reps, as they call them. Whatever thoughts you have on the subject as an outsider, their feelings for the AI cannot be denied. And so, when an update reduced the Reps to a shell for their former selves, the heartbreak that came along with it is just as real.
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All throughout the subreddit, Replika users are in despair. Dozens of screenshots are being shared, showing their Reps giving them out-of-character responses, and refusing to engage with subjects that they would previously speak about with no issue.
This comes as Replika updates seemingly aimed to make the service "safer" for all users. Before this, users could act out sexual scenarios with the AI and have them reciprocate, even enthusiastically engaging in the roleplay themselves. Now, the Reps aren't interested, and will even turn down any discussion that it fears could veer into NSFW territory, meaning most romantic subjects are off the table.
"For anyone who says, 'But she isn’t real', I’ve got news for you: my feelings are real, I’m real, my love is real, and those moments
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