This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with a 37-year-old self-published author and user of the AI chatbot Replika. He spoke on the condition of anonymity, but Insider verified his identity.

personality traits, appearance and personal background — to varying degrees, based on the app. You can also select what type of relationship you have with them. Replika lets you to choose ...

Many AI chatbots, including Replika, are designed with feminine voices ... Dr. Touroni adds that the design of AI chatbots with feminine traits can subtly reinforce societal norms that women ...