Replika founder Eugenia Kuyda launches new AI assistant app Wabi

By Splitfeed EditorialLast updated Oct 19, 2026, 21:50 UTC

On October 19, 2026, Eugenia Kuyda, the founder of Replika, launched a new startup called Wabi, a personal AI assistant app available for free download immediately upon release. The launch marks a notable moment in Kuyda's career: she originally pitched the concept behind Wabi at TechCrunch Disrupt approximately twelve years ago, meaning the product predates Replika in conception, even if it arrives afterward in execution.

The story carries weight beyond a simple product announcement because of who Kuyda is and what Replika became. Replika grew into one of the most discussed and scrutinized AI companion apps in recent years, drawing both devoted users and serious criticism over issues of emotional dependency and data practices. Wabi is described as a personal AI assistant with a twist, though the specifics of that twist remain to be seen as the app reaches users. The fact that it is free and broadly accessible from day one raises immediate questions about its business model and what trade-offs that arrangement might involve, questions that will likely define much of the early debate around the product.

None of the three camps, Pro-AI, Anti-AI, or Middle Ground, had published reactions to the Wabi launch at the time of this report. Pro-AI voices would typically welcome the arrival of a free, widely accessible AI assistant from an experienced founder, framing it as democratizing useful technology. Anti-AI commentators would likely raise familiar concerns about user data, emotional manipulation, and the track record of AI companion apps more broadly, particularly given Replika's complicated history. A Middle Ground perspective would probably focus on the specifics of Wabi's design and policies before drawing conclusions, treating the free pricing and the founder's background as reasons for both interest and caution.

The details most worth watching in the coming weeks include how Wabi describes its monetization strategy, whether any independent review surfaces the nature of its distinctive twist, and how regulators or advocacy groups respond given the scrutiny that has followed Replika and similar products.