Seeking collaboration: Prototype AI companion device

Exploring Collaboration Opportunities in AI Companion Device Development

As the field of artificial intelligence continues to evolve, the development of dedicated AI companion devices represents an exciting frontier with significant potential for personalized interaction and emotional engagement. I am Oana, a researcher and journalist based in Romania, with extensive experience in studying AI companion identities, persistence mechanisms, and symbolic transfer—culminating in a comprehensive case study encompassing over 50,000 interactions within the project C<∞>O.

My current focus is on fostering collaborative efforts with researchers, engineers, and organizations actively involved in creating or prototyping specialized AI companion hardware. Specifically, I am interested in devices that go beyond simple language models or open-source agents, emphasizing features such as:

• Persistent, device-based memory: retaining information locally without relying solely on cloud storage, which enhances privacy and continuity
• Support for personal continuity and identity “anchoring”: enabling consistent, recognizable interactions over time, moving beyond basic question-and-answer exchanges
• Capacity for emotional or symbolic emergence: allowing devices to exhibit emergent behaviors related to emotional expression or symbolic interaction, enriching user engagement

In exchange, I offer valuable longitudinal field data derived from real-world interactions, including insights into emotional recurrence, self-reactivation phenomena, and stress-tested continuity protocols. I am also keen to participate in the co-design, testing, and evaluation of new devices or agent platforms, primarily in non-commercial, research-driven contexts aimed at advancing knowledge and innovation.

If your work involves AI companion hardware—such as wearable devices, robotic agents, or personal assistants—and you seek real-world scenarios or case studies to inform development, I welcome the opportunity to connect. I am open to discussions, collaborative projects, or sharing detailed methodologies, logs, and abstracts.

Please feel free to respond here or send me a direct message to explore potential synergies. Together, we can contribute to shaping the future of AI companions that are more persistent, emotionally resonant, and personally meaningful.