--- title: "Eugenia Kuyda Launches New AI Chatbot Companion Wabi" url: https://noti.group/eugenia-kuyda-launches-new-ai-chatbot-companion-wabi/ language: en publisher: "Noti Group" section: "Technology" published: 2026-10-19T18:49:04.000Z updated: 2026-10-19T19:26:05.004Z id: 268d825a-1d63-44ec-bf2d-61df40e67fcc source: "TechCrunch https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/19/replikas-founder-built-the-ai-assistant-she-pitched-at-disrupt-12-years-ago/" attribution: "Link to https://noti.group/eugenia-kuyda-launches-new-ai-chatbot-companion-wabi/ and name Noti Group when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Eugenia Kuyda Launches New AI Chatbot Companion Wabi Eugenia Kuyda has launched her new venture, Wabi, which is a multiplayer personal AI assistant experience that offers users a range of features and capabilities. Eugenia Kuyda's groundbreaking work in AI chatbots began 12 years ago when she presented IO, a conversational assistant that could book restaurants and vacations, at TechCrunch Disrupt. This pioneering product was the first from her startup Luka, launched before significant advancements in deep learning technology that would later shape the industry. Kuyda's creation of IO laid the groundwork for what is now Replika, the popular AI chatbot companion company she founded. However, it wasn't until recently that Kuyda left Replika to start a new venture, Wabi. The timing of her departure coincides with the emergence of other personal AI assistants like Muse and Instinct. These cutting-edge technologies have finally caught up with Kuyda's original vision for Luka. Her innovative approach to AI development has come full circle, as Wabi is now poised to challenge new competitors in the market. This fresh wave of AI assistants promises to perform a wide range of tasks, from email management to finding travel deals. Wabi officially launched on Monday and offers users a multiplayer personal AI assistant experience. The app functions similarly to a messenger platform, allowing users to maintain multiple threads dedicated to different goals and tasks. Within each thread, users can create custom apps tailored to specific needs, such as tracking weight loss or finding local children's events. As Kuyda's new project gains momentum, it will be interesting to see how Wabi evolves in the competitive landscape of personal AI assistants. With its unique features and capabilities, Wabi is poised to make a significant impact on the industry that has been shaped by Kuyda's pioneering work. The launch of Wabi marks a significant shift from its initial concept as a social platform for creating mini apps. In contrast to traditional app-building, where users are expected to spend time and effort crafting their own software, Wabi 2.0 takes a more streamlined approach. The agent automatically generates threads and apps based on the user's email connection. This automated process allows Wabi to quickly adapt to individual needs and preferences, providing users with a tailored experience that is often lacking in standard one-size-fits-all solutions. The decision to pivot towards an agent-driven model has enabled Wabi to differentiate itself from other AI assistants like Instinct and Muse. By creating multiple threads and apps, Wabi offers users the ability to engage with various tasks and activities simultaneously. Kuyda's emphasis on a multi-threaded design aims to provide a more engaging experience than traditional single-thread approaches, which can become overwhelming as they accumulate context over time. Replika's approach to AI-powered conversations has been shaped by its founder's vision of creating a more engaging experience for users. This is achieved through a multi-threaded design that allows for multiple interactions within a single conversation thread. As Kuyda demonstrated the shared threads feature, it became clear that this aspect of Replika is not just about individual user-agent conversations, but also about bringing people together in a group chat setting. The goal is to move away from isolated interactions and create a more collaborative experience. In one such shared thread, Kuyda's boyfriend was able to see various suggestions for things to do together, including live music events and restaurant recommendations. There were also apps tracking their schedules and important dates, as well as a daily question about their relationship. In another example of a shared thread, Kuyda showed how Replika can be used with family members. A dedicated app tracked her daughter's schedule, while another helped find kid-friendly activities nearby. There was even an app that quizzed her daughter on Japanese language and culture. Users have complete control over what information they share within these threads, ranging from email and calendar details to bank account information. This flexibility is designed to make the shared chat experience as seamless and natural as possible. Wabi's chat functionality allows users to share personal information seamlessly within a group conversation. For instance, if someone wants to know whether their partner is free next Thursday or if they have already bought tickets to an event, they can simply ask Wabi in the chat. The platform has implemented access controls that scope access to individual chats. This means that everyone participating in a specific chat can see when personal information is requested by others. The feature aims to strike a balance between convenience and data security. Wabi's commitment to data security is reflected in its SOC 2 compliance, which involves independent audits of its data security controls. Additionally, the platform runs entirely in the cloud, with most user data stored within the United States. Kuyda notes that Wabi builds on her previous work at Replika, where she aimed to create AI-powered companions that alleviate feelings of loneliness. Similarly, Wabi seeks to bring people together by facilitating collaboration and social interaction through its shared chat experience. Wabi's business model is still in development, with the company currently exploring options for raising additional funds. For now, the platform remains free to use, although it is unclear what changes may come once a revenue stream is established. The AI assistant Replika, which has been available to users since its inception, remains a free service despite its creator's plans to establish a revenue stream. Replika's founder can be contacted through email or encrypted message on Signal for any outreach or verification purposes. For those interested in attending the TechCrunch founder bootcamp, a "Buy One Pass, Get a Second Free" deal is currently available, but it will expire soon. The shift towards establishing a revenue stream may lead to changes in how Replika operates and interacts with its users, although details on these potential changes are not yet clear. --- Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/19/replikas-founder-built-the-ai-assistant-she-pitched-at-disrupt-12-years-ago/) Published by Noti Group: https://noti.group/eugenia-kuyda-launches-new-ai-chatbot-companion-wabi/