We’ve uncovered fifteen AI use case patterns (there are probably more) and given each one a name. This is the eighth of the fifteen.

Conversational assistant providing personalized guidance.

Sometimes, you just need a little help. “Hey, ChatGPT. What type of car should I rent in Grenada and Tobago?” or “How can I best handle a lovesick employee?” or “Which events in Germany are best for promoting organization design services?”

The Interactive Companion is an AI pattern that engages users in natural language interactions, offering personalized assistance, information, and guidance. This pattern provides a conversational interface for diverse tasks and queries, making technology more accessible and user-friendly.

“Hello Claude, I will be in Stockholm for three days. What are the best things to do for a lone traveler? Give me a suggestion for an itinerary.”

The Interactive Companion can function in various roles, from virtual personal assistants to customer service representatives, educational aids, or mental health supporters. By leveraging natural language processing and machine learning, this pattern creates a more intuitive and responsive interaction between humans and technology.

More examples:

• A healthcare provider could implement an Interactive Companion as a 24/7 patient support system, offering symptom assessment, medication reminders, and appointment scheduling, resulting in improved patient care and reduced strain on medical staff.

• A multinational corporation might deploy an AI-powered Interactive Companion to assist employees with HR-related queries, providing instant access to company policies, benefits information, and personalized career development advice.

• An educational technology company can create an Interactive Companion that serves as a personalized tutor for each individual student.

As the name suggests, the Interactive Companion pattern is all about unlocking knowledge and experience and making it available to users in an interactive, conversational style.