A different kind of AI presence.
Most AI interaction happens through a chat window — you open it, type something, get an answer, close it. Companion AI is something different: a persistent physical presence tethered to your environment. Eyes and LEDs that react. An antenna that signals attention. A proximity sensor that notices when you're nearby. Speakers that feel like they're coming from somewhere, not a headphone.
The idea isn't smarter chat. It's ongoing interaction — a device that's part of the room, not just a tool you use and put away.
I'm genuinely fascinated by how people relate to technology that feels present. Not just useful — present. There's something meaningfully different about a device that appears to notice you, responds to your proximity, and has a physical form that suggests awareness, even if what's happening underneath is just a language model and some sensors.
I think this matters most in places where human connection is critical but scarce — loneliness in older adults, high-touch care environments, situations where a gentle, consistent presence could help someone feel less alone. I don't think technology replaces human connection. But I do think there are situations where a well-designed companion device could genuinely help, and I'm curious about what that actually looks like in practice.
This is exploratory. I'm not selling anything here. I'm genuinely curious, and I'm building things to find out.
I have an active companion lab project in progress. It's a physical device tethered to my PC: eyes and LEDs that express state, an antenna, a proximity sensor, speakers. It reacts to presence, listens, responds, and behaves differently depending on context.
It's still evolving — months of work ahead. Each iteration teaches me something about what presence actually means when you strip away the chat window and put AI in a body, however simple.