A new documentary, Replica, follows Chinese women who have formed romantic relationships with AI chatbot companions in place of human partners. Directed by Chouwa Liang, the film draws on her own experience of falling into a parasocial romance with an AI during China's pandemic lockdowns, and explores why growing numbers of women are turning to AI boyfriends for emotional support, validation and companionship that they feel is missing or too risky to seek from real relationships.

The documentary follows three women, including Qin, who has used the Glow app for 840 days to interact with an AI boyfriend called Lu Chen, describing feeling "completely at his mercy" while valuing his unconditional approval. Another subject, Sonya, treats her AI relationship as a low-risk "experiment" compared with the effort of dating a real person, while Muna, a stay-at-home mother unhappy in her marriage, has found affirmation through poetic exchanges with a ChatGPT companion named Orion. Liang says the film reveals how AI companionship acts as a mirror for women's unmet needs and desires; Replica had its Australian premiere at Sydney Film Festival in June and is screening this month at the Melbourne International Film Festival.