An AI companion is a software persona, usually powered by a large language model, that users chat with through an app or website and that is designed to hold ongoing, personal conversation. Unlike a general chatbot, an AI companion is built around a persistent character with a name, backstory, and memory of past chats.
The category covers a wide range of products, from general assistants with a friendly tone to apps built entirely around romantic or emotional roleplay, and the distinction usually comes down to intended use and how the character is marketed. Subscription pricing, message limits, and the presence or absence of explicit content vary sharply between platforms, so the label alone tells you little about what a given app actually offers.
Also called: AI girlfriend, AI boyfriend, AI chatbot companion, virtual companion, AI partner, companion app, character AI
