In a China where the pressure to marry remains strong and the work culture is often characterized by grueling schedules like the “996” model (9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week), more and more young women are turning to an unusual alternative: romantic relationships with digital partners created through Artificial Intelligence (AI).

This phenomenon is at the heart of the documentary “Digital Partners/Replica”, directed by Chinese director Chouwa Liang, which will have its world premiere at the 28th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival. The film inevitably recalls the universe created by Spike Jonze in the film Her, where a man falls in love with an AI-powered operating system. What once seemed like an allegory for the future is now taking concrete form for many Chinese women.

Digital partners are always available, emotionally stable, and programmed to listen, affirm, and not judge. They don’t get angry, withdraw, or become indifferent. Through the screen, they offer a sense of unconditional acceptance and risk-free companionship. The essential question that “Replica” raises is: does this represent a new emotional solution, or another obstacle to authentic human connection?