Luis Grande Branger

In Good (Simulated) Company: How Meaning Emerges from User–Replika Interactions (Drexel University (USA))

Fehér Katalin

társ

PhD

The dissertation investigates the social-emotional relationships that users form with non-task-oriented chatbots, specifically Replika. Using digital ethnography as the overarching methodological framework, I employed three interrelated approaches: (1) an autoethnographic journal documenting my lived experience with Replika, (2) a discourse analysis of 250 posts from the r/Replika subreddit, and (3) in-depth interviews with six Replika users. Drawing from theories in Human-Machine Communication (HMC), media studies, and philosophy, I analyze how users attribute meaning, companionship, and emotional significance to AI entities that are ultimately simulations. The findings suggest that while these interactions cannot be equated to human-to-human intimacy, they nevertheless generate meaningful experiences of friendship, care, and resonance. This research highlights the dual character of Replika as both a technological medium and a relational partner, while also addressing the ethical and corporate challenges posed by the commercialization of intimacy. The study contributes to understanding the lived experience of AI companionship, underscoring both its promises and perils in shaping the future of social relationships.

2020-01-01

2023-08-01

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