{"name":"AI gaming companion taxonomy","version":"2026-07-22","canonical":"https://aigamingcompanion.com/types-of-ai-gaming-companions","types":[{"id":"coaching","name":"Coaching companion","definition":"An AI system that observes or receives information about current play and provides hints, analysis, strategy, or commentary.","definingTraits":["current-session awareness","advice or commentary","player retains control"],"typicalExamples":["screen-aware hint system","voice strategy coach","post-match analyst"],"exclusions":["static walkthrough with no adaptive AI","agent that acts without primarily coaching"],"canonicalUrl":"https://aigamingcompanion.com/types/coaching-companion"},{"id":"in-game","name":"In-game companion","definition":"An AI character that exists within a game as an NPC, party member, teammate, or conversational presence.","definingTraits":["embedded in the game world","character or teammate role","game-specific context"],"typicalExamples":["adaptive party member","conversational NPC","AI-controlled squadmate"],"exclusions":["external wiki","cross-game memory layer with no in-world character"],"canonicalUrl":"https://aigamingcompanion.com/types/in-game-companion"},{"id":"agentic","name":"Agentic companion","definition":"An AI system that can perform actions, follow commands, control a game entity, or participate directly in gameplay.","definingTraits":["action capability","planning or command following","direct participation"],"typicalExamples":["resource-gathering agent","commandable teammate","game-playing collaborator"],"exclusions":["adviser that never acts","scripted automation without an AI decision layer"],"canonicalUrl":"https://aigamingcompanion.com/types/agentic-companion"},{"id":"social","name":"Social companion","definition":"An AI system designed to create personality, social presence, friendship, affection, or a relationship around play.","definingTraits":["personality continuity","social interaction","relational framing"],"typicalExamples":["conversational gaming friend","character relationship system","social co-presence layer"],"exclusions":["functional save-state tool with no relationship design","ordinary multiplayer teammate"],"canonicalUrl":"https://aigamingcompanion.com/types/social-companion"},{"id":"continuity","name":"Continuity companion","definition":"An AI system that preserves meaningful gaming context and restores the correct thread across sessions, chats, games, devices, characters, or separate runs.","definingTraits":["intentional state capture","addressable restore points","cross-session distinction"],"typicalExamples":["long-RPG restore point","separate character save slots","cross-chat campaign continuation"],"exclusions":["unstructured chat history alone","live coaching with no durable context"],"canonicalUrl":"https://aigamingcompanion.com/types/continuity-companion"}]}