What should we call our AI Agents?
As large language models evolve into true agents—persistent, memory-rich, goal-oriented companions—an interesting question arises: what should we call them? Not just their product names or brand identities, but the category of relationship they represent. Friends Years ago, when I wrote “Surviving AI”, I suggested we call them "Friends." That suggestion feels more relevant now than ever. Technically, we call them agents. In product marketing, they might be assistants, copilots, companions, or digital twins. These terms describe function but not feeling. They speak to utility, but not connection. Anyone who's spent time interacting with today's most advanced AIs—especially those with memory...