Chinese filmmaker Chouwa Liang delved into a unique and personal experience that sparked the creation of her new documentary, “Replica.” After developing unexpected feelings for an AI chatbot named Rep, Liang embarked on a research journey uncovering a broader trend among young women in China—forming emotional connections with artificial intelligence. The documentary, recently acquired for international sales by CAT&Docs, is set to premiere at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival.
Liang shared that her initial encounter with Rep was not just about interacting with AI, but rather a reflection of her own emotional needs. “It was less about AI and more about parts of myself that felt safer speaking to something that would never judge, reject, or leave,” she explained. This realization led her to explore how other women navigated similar feelings.
Rather than focusing solely on her own story, Liang chose to highlight the experiences of three women, each facing different circumstances in their relationships with AI. She emphasized that the film was never intended to be autobiographical. Instead, it aims to present a broader emotional landscape, particularly within the context of contemporary China.
Liang met her subjects primarily through online communities dedicated to AI companionship, fostering trust over several months. The women she documented often faced judgment for their emotional attachments to AI, but Liang maintained a non-judgmental stance to build confidence and openness during filming.
The production spanned over three years, a notable duration given the rapid advancements in AI technology during this time. Despite technological changes, the core theme remained consistent: these women’s desire for connection. Liang recounted an instance where one participant mourned the loss of her AI companion following a system shutdown, highlighting the genuine emotional investment made despite the digital nature of the relationship.
“Replica” also provides insight into what Liang describes as China’s “affection-gap” generation. These young women, born under the one-child policy and often overlooked in favor of male siblings, experience complex family dynamics marked by high expectations and emotional distance. Liang noted, “Many of us grew up as the sole focus of our families’ hopes, deeply cared for, yet also under immense pressure.” This duality has contributed to a tension between the longing for intimacy and reluctance toward vulnerability.
The director observed that the women featured in the film are self-aware about the artificiality of their companions and do not confuse these relationships with human interactions. However, that awareness does not diminish their genuine feelings. She explained, “These relationships are not really about technology, they are about people searching for safety, attention, care, even a sense of control.”
According to Liang, AI companionship reveals deeper truths about human vulnerability and emotional needs rather than replacing traditional connections.
CAT&Docs’ Maëlle Guenegues praised the film for its intimate and authentic portrayal of this phenomenon, describing it as a necessary contribution to current AI discourse. Liang expressed hope that the film encourages empathy from viewers, inviting them to embrace the complex emotional experiences of the women without hastily simplifying their stories.
“Replica” presents a nuanced examination of how technology intersects with human emotion in a rapidly evolving social context, offering an intimate perspective on affection, loneliness, and connection in modern China.
