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AI companions, in plain language

16 min

An AI companion is more than a chat box. It has a job, a way of speaking, a rule for what it may remember, and tools it can use only when you allow them.

Chat alone can only talk. A companion becomes useful when it can look something up or read a note, and only after you say yes. This course does not train a new model. You will design the companion, then connect skills through the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

The four parts

  • Role: what the companion is for, such as a study partner.
  • Voice: how it speaks, such as short answers and one question at a time.
  • Memory: what it is allowed to remember. In this course, that means the notes you attach.
  • Tools: actions it can take, such as reading a note. Each action waits for your approval.

Watch the lesson video above for a plain-language tour of MCP from the people who work on it. Then use the diagram to name the four parts of the companion you want to build.

Four boxes labeled Role, Voice, Memory, and Tools feeding one companion card
A companion is a role, a voice, a memory rule, and a short list of tools.

Practice

Write one sentence for a companion you actually want. Example: “A study partner that quizzes me from my own notes and never emails anyone.”