Replika founder launches Wabi, an assistant based on an idea pitched 12 years ago

Eugenia Kuyda launched Wabi for all users as a free, downloadable personal AI assistant. The concept revisits IO, a chatbot she presented at TechCrunch Disrupt 12 years ago, before the deep-learning advances that drove today’s large language models. Kuyda later turned the startup Luka into Replika and left her role as CEO last year to found Wabi.

In version 2.0, Wabi works as a messaging app with multiple conversations dedicated to tasks and long-term goals. Users can create custom apps, such as health trackers and event calendars; after connecting email, the assistant automatically creates several initial conversations and apps. Kuyda told TechCrunch that conversations can also be shared, allowing groups to use features such as calendars, lists and recommendations with the AI agent.