Eugenia Kuyda

Eugenia Kuyda is a Russian-born, San Francisco-based entrepreneur and artificial intelligence specialist. She is the co-founder and CEO of Replika, a startup known for developing an AI-powered chatbot designed to provide emotional support to help users improve their mental health.

Before pioneering Replika, Kuyda received her BA and MA in journalism, then went on to study finance at the London Business School. She previously worked as a columnist for one of Russia’s largest daily newspapers and, shortly after that, created her first app, Bribr, which allowed people to discreetly track bribery attempts. Circa 2014 to 2015, she co-founded the AI startup Luka, a messaging app that used natural language processing to allow users to have conversations with a chatbot. It was later acquired by a Chinese company in 2017. It was through Luka that the hit AI chatbot app Replika was developed.

Since its genesis, Replika has received widespread attention and praise for its unique approach to mental health support. It allows users to create a digital version of themselves, called a “Replika,” which they can then use for a one-on-one conversation utilizing its advanced AI technology. It has been downloaded millions of times and received funding from prominent investors. In addition to her work at Replika, Kuyda has given talks and participated in panels at various tech conferences and events across the globe, along with appearances in numerous media outlets for her work around AI and mental health.