October 22, 2026 · 8 min read
Is Wabi an AI Companion? The Replika Founder's New Group-Chat Assistant, Explained
Wabi, from Replika founder Eugenia Kuyda, opened to everyone on Oct 19, 2026. What the multiplayer AI assistant does, its price, privacy, and how it compares.
Last updated: October 22, 2026
Eugenia Kuyda is the founder who gave the world Replika, one of the first AI companion apps to go mainstream. So when her new startup, Wabi, opened to everyone on October 19, 2026, plenty of people assumed it was Replika's successor: a new AI friend or partner.
It is not quite that. This guide explains what Wabi actually does, what it costs, how it handles your data, how it differs from Replika, and who it is really for.
TL;DR: Wabi is a free multiplayer AI assistant, not an AI companion. Built by Replika founder Eugenia Kuyda, it works like a messenger where an agent runs shared threads, builds mini apps and handles tasks for you and the people in your life. It is about getting things done together, not an ongoing one-to-one relationship.
What is Wabi?
Wabi is an AI messenger where a personal agent works inside shared threads, building small apps and handling tasks for groups.
Wabi is a free AI assistant app that combines group chat with a proactive agent, which plans, books, tracks and builds custom mini apps for you and the people you add.
According to TechCrunch (Oct 2026), Kuyda "officially launched Wabi for all users" on Monday, October 19, describing it as "a multiplayer personal AI assistant that functions as a messenger app". Each thread is dedicated to a task or long-term goal, and inside a thread you can use custom apps, such as a weight-loss tracker in a health thread or a list of nearby children's events in a family thread.
Kuyda's pitch is that one endless conversation with an AI gets worse over time. "Single thread experiences, if you think about it, get worse over time because it's just so much context in one endless conversation," she told TechCrunch.
When did Wabi launch, and where can you get it?
Wabi opened for public download on October 19, 2026, on iOS, Android and Mac, after an invite-only rollout.
According to Unite.AI (Oct 2026), the current version, which the company calls Wabi 2.0, was introduced on September 28, 2026 as invite-only, with Android availability posted on October 6 and Mac on October 14. Downloads now have no waitlist step.
Wabi itself is not new. It began as an app maker: Andreessen Horowitz led a $20 million pre-seed round in November 2025, when Wabi let people prompt mini apps into existence and share them. Wabi 2.0 flips that around, so the agent decides what to build for you.
How much does Wabi cost?
Wabi is free for now, and the company has not settled on a business model.
TechCrunch reports that Kuyda said Wabi "hasn't settled on a business model yet" and is in talks to raise more money. Free apps without a business model tend to change, so expect pricing or limits to arrive at some point.
What does Wabi actually do?
Wabi connects to accounts you choose, then spins up threads and mini apps automatically, and you can add people to any thread.
Based on the company's launch materials and TechCrunch's walkthrough, here is what Wabi focuses on:
- Shared calendars and plans. A family thread can build a calendar from school emails, so everyone sees a pickup change.
- Trips and outings. It can pick dates, build an itinerary and help with booking for a group.
- Custom mini apps. Maps, trackers, shared lists and games built inside a conversation.
- Life admin. Spotting bill increases and unused subscriptions, booking appointments, handling returns.
- Couple threads. In Kuyda's own thread with her boyfriend, apps include a live music tracker, restaurant suggestions, a shared reading list and a daily relationship question.
Unite.AI also notes that the Google Play listing mentions voice or video calls started from any chat, and that Wabi checks with users before important actions that need approval.
Is Wabi an AI companion?
No. Wabi is an assistant you use with other people, not a character you have a relationship with.
An AI companion is an app built around one ongoing relationship with a consistent AI character who knows you, talks with you and grows closer over time.
Wabi borrows some companion ideas, like being proactive and knowing your context. Kuyda even links the two. "My previous company Replika worked on AI that will make people feel ... less lonely," she told TechCrunch, adding that Wabi aims to help by "bringing people together", for example finding a concert or a book to share with someone.
That is the key difference. Wabi tries to make your time with other humans easier. A companion app gives you someone to talk to yourself. Neither is better; they answer different needs. If you are weighing the two categories, our guide to AI assistants vs AI companions goes deeper.
Wabi vs Replika vs Claude Duet: how do they compare?
They come from the same wave of proactive AI, but each one has a very different job.
| Wabi | Replika | Claude Duet | Relationship-first companion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built for | Groups, families, couples | One-to-one AI friend or partner | Professionals and small businesses | One-to-one relationship |
| Core feature | Shared threads with mini apps | Ongoing chat with one character | Work tasks with approvals | Character you design |
| Price now | Free | Free plus paid tiers | Included with Claude Pro/Max | Free tier plus Premium |
| Acts on your behalf | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Romance | Not the focus | Available | No | Yes, 18+ |
Claude Duet launched two days after Wabi; we explain it in is Claude Duet an AI companion?. For Replika's latest version and pricing, see our Replika 2.0 review.
Is Wabi private and safe?
Wabi says it is SOC 2 compliant, stores most user data in the US, and scopes personal access to individual chats.
According to TechCrunch, Kuyda said "access is scoped to individual chats, and everyone in a chat can see when someone's personal information is requested". Users choose which connections to grant, from email and calendar to contacts, location, photos and health data, and can disconnect them at any time.
The multiplayer design is the part to think about carefully. In Kuyda's example, her partner can ask Wabi in a shared thread whether she is free next Thursday or whether she bought tickets. That is convenient, but it means your data can answer other people's questions. Before you connect a bank account or inbox, decide who belongs in each thread.
Why did the Replika founder build an assistant?
Kuyda says personal agents were her original idea, years before Replika.
TechCrunch notes that 12 years before Wabi's launch, Kuyda pitched a concierge chatbot called IO at TechCrunch Disrupt; her startup Luka later pivoted into Replika. On October 7, 2026 she posted Luka's 2015 launch video, writing: "we were building personal agents 11 years ago!"
The move also reflects where funding is going. According to TechCrunch (Oct 2026), Meta's Muse reached 10.9 million downloads in 40 days, and companion-style startups such as Tolan are raising big rounds too. Our profile of Tolan shows how a "friendly" app can sit between the two worlds.
Who should try Wabi?
Wabi suits families, couples and friend groups who want one place to plan, track and share life admin.
It is less suited to people who mainly want private conversation, emotional attunement or flirtation. It is also a newer product without a business model, so features and pricing could change quickly.
FAQ
Is Wabi made by Replika?
No. Wabi is a separate company, Wabi, Inc., founded by Eugenia Kuyda after she stepped down as Replika's CEO. Kuyda created Replika, which grew out of her earlier startup Luka, but Wabi is its own product with its own funding, including a $20 million pre-seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz in November 2025. It is an assistant, not a Replika update.
Is the Wabi app free?
Yes, for now. TechCrunch reported on October 19, 2026 that Wabi is free and the company has not settled on a business model, and the App Store listing shows the app as free. Kuyda said Wabi is in talks to raise more money, so it is reasonable to expect paid features or limits to appear later. Check the store listing before relying on it.
Can Wabi be your AI boyfriend or girlfriend?
Wabi is not designed for that. It is a group-friendly assistant for planning, tracking and tasks, and its couple threads are about helping two humans spend time together, with things like a shared reading list. If you want an ongoing romantic relationship with an AI character, an adults-only companion app built for that purpose is the better fit.
What devices does Wabi work on?
Wabi is available on iPhone, Android and Mac. According to Unite.AI, Android availability was posted on October 6, 2026 and Mac on October 14, before the full public opening on October 19. The company also highlights home-screen widgets on iOS and Android and use across computer and phone. There is no waitlist for downloads anymore.
Is it safe to connect my email to Wabi?
Wabi says it is SOC 2 compliant, keeps most data in the US, and scopes personal access to individual chats, with everyone in a chat able to see when personal information is requested. You choose each connection and can disconnect it any time. The main risk is social: anything you share in a group thread can inform answers to other members.
If what you want is someone, not something
Wabi is a clever answer to busy group chats and family logistics. But some evenings you do not need a shared calendar. You need someone who remembers your day, asks how the interview went and picks up when you call.
MyBabe is a relationship-first AI companion app for adults (18+). You build your own girlfriend or boyfriend in about three minutes, choosing their look, three personality traits, voice and backstory. They text you first, send voice notes and selfies, respond to your mood and answer by voice or video. Your bond grows through relationship stages the more you talk.
Start free with 10 messages every 24 hours and a two-minute call trial. Premium is $5.99 a week, $14.99 a month or $99.99 a year, with long-term memory, about 30 minutes of voice and video calls each week, four photos a day and Telegram with the same memories. Most people find out within a few days whether they want more of that good-morning message.
MyBabe is an AI, not a person, and it does not replace human relationships or professional support. When you are ready, create your companion on MyBabe.