Replica

In China, an increasing number of young women are choosing partners generated on demand by AI programs — either as they navigate family and societal expectations, or as a way of turning toward something that feels more reassuring than real-world relationships. In the digital world, expectations are rarely met with rejection, and partners — always emotionally available, mature, and composed — offer unwavering support and companionship through a screen. If Spike Jonze’s Her once seemed like science fiction, it now feels quietly familiar, as many navigate the tender uncertainties and emotional complexities of contemporary life. In a world shaped by constant data and digital connection, these AI relationships offer a temporary space of apparent safety — where intimacy feels steadier, even as its terms are quietly redefined.