In this paper, we discuss a new physical interface towards agentic models. We define AI Cohabitants as new interfaces for agentic models that act with an inherent character, and have the ability to act autonomously without user inputs. An AI cohabitant is more like a roommate or smart house pet, with its own personality and narrative, reversing the subservient dynamic of current AI assistants. Unlike traditional voice agents that require users to actively open an app or issue a command, AI Cohabitants are inherently physical and exist alongside users continuously, occupying space in everyday life with a degree of autonomy. This persistent, ambient presence allows the AI to observe, learn, and subtly participate in the user’s world—not by maximizing engagement time or demanding attention, but by developing its own narrative and rhythm of interaction. To explore this concept, we developed a physical embodiment of such a cohabitant: a robotic parrot named the Stochastic Parrot. Through its physicality and contextual framing as a living presence in the user’s environment, we observed new patterns of interaction and more nuanced relational dynamics between the AI and its human counterpart. The framing of the AI as a characterful cohabitant, rather than a utilitarian assistant, invites a more spontaneous, expressive, and emotionally textured form of engagement.
Collaborator: Ethan Chang