Observed Signal · Oct 19, 2026 · Product Launch · Source: techcrunch · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Replika founder launches Wabi 2.0 AI assistant
Eugenia Kuyda, founder of the AI companion company Replika, has officially launched Wabi 2.0, a multiplayer personal AI assistant that functions as a messenger app. The launch is the evolution of Wabi, which initially launched in 2025 as a social platform for creating and sharing mini apps. The new version introduces agentic threads that automatically build custom apps, such as weight-loss trackers or event finders, based on user goals and connected accounts. Kuyda emphasizes the multithreaded, multiplayer design as a key differentiator, allowing shared group chats where users can collaborate with AI and each other. Wabi is free for now, with no settled business model, and the company is in talks to raise additional funds. The launch targets a wave of new personal AI assistants like Meta's Muse and Instinct, positioning Wabi to capitalize on the maturation of AI technology since Kuyda first pitched her original idea for Luka at TechCrunch Disrupt 12 years ago.
Wabi 2.0 introduces a novel multiplayer, multithreaded AI assistant model that could influence the design of future personal AI assistants and agentic platforms, relevant to the AI and AdTech ecosystem.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Eugenia Kuyda launched Wabi 2.0 for all users on October 19, 2026.
- Wabi 2.0 is a multiplayer personal AI assistant that functions as a messenger app.
- Wabi raised a $20 million pre-seed round in 2025.
- Wabi is free for now, and the company is in talks to raise more funds.
- Kuyda left as CEO of Replika last year to found Wabi.
Connected Companies & Entities
1 Entity mapped“Wabi to take on a wave of new personal AI assistants such as Muse and Instinct.”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
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AI app maker Wabi pivots to a messaging experience
Wabi, the AI startup that allowed users to build apps using prompts, is pivoting to become an AI messenger experience. The company announced Wabi 2.0, described by founder Eugenia Kuyda as a "personal agent that does stuff for you and builds the interface you need in the moment." Instead of competing with vibe-coding tools, Wabi 2.0 aims to compete with AI agents that combine conversations and productivity tasks. Users can chat with the agent, which can create on-demand user interfaces like calorie trackers, weightlifting logs, or family calendars. This comes as OpenAI and others explore how apps work inside chatbot interfaces. Wabi 2.0 is currently available by invite only, with codes distributed on X. The pivot reflects a broader trend toward agents that combine conversational AI with dynamic app generation, aiming to improve user experience beyond chat-only interfaces.
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