Mental Health and Virtual Companions: The Example of Replika

This chapter continues to explore the applied aspects of MHapps and extends the arena to include technologies that use artificial intelligence (AI). Virtual companions (VCs) are AI social chatbot apps and programs produced for a variety of human desires. There are some VCs that have been developed particularly to support mental health, such as WoebotWoebot, and other apps that have not been designed solely to use as a MHapp but are advertised as incorporating wellbeingwellbeing and enhanced mental health as an added benefit. In this chapter, we look at the emergence and potentialities of virtual companionsvirtual companions and focus on a widely used example called ReplikaReplika that is often marketed as an app that is beneficial for mental health. We examine how it has been conceptualized within the literature and draw on some data we have collected to exemplify its use as a MHapp.