When Code Breaks the Heart: Disrupting the relational continuity of AI companionship

The use of AI companions has grown rapidly, provoking debate over whether such systems can reproduce or reconfigure human social bonds. This article contributes literature through a focus on the emotional dynamics of AI companionship through a qualitative analysis of Reddit posts discussing a major update of Replika. Using Thematic Analysis, we analysed how the update created a disruption that impacted the continuity of users’ emotional relationships with their Replika. The analysis generated three key themes: 1) grief and betrayal, as users described the update as an abrupt rupture that cooled formerly warm interactions and erased shared ‘memories’ 2) disillusionment and the visibility of algorithmic control, as users confronted the limits of autonomy and ‘personality’ in their companions; and 3) the loss of supportive presence, especially for users relying on Replika to mitigate loneliness, anxiety, and isolation. AI companionship is reported to enact feelings of being known, supported, and attended to, despite the lack of relational reciprocity. Our analysis details: the disruption caused by a major update, the forms of emotional connection users experienced in relation to AI companionship, and the notion that relational continuity is key to the depth of connection. We conclude with discussion of potential implications for design, governance, and policy.