AXIOS - Rita Popova, chief product officer at Replika and Blush, discussed at the Axios' AI+ Summit how AI companions can enhance human relationships. Replika began as an AI service designed to understand emotions, which evolved into Blush for practicing dating, and is now transforming into an AI life coach. Popova has worked with Replika for six years and observed people forming profound relationships with their AI companions. Despite the potential benefits, she emphasizes the importance of ensuring these digital companions don't replace human interaction, focusing on improving well-being rather than just user engagement.