AI Coaching: The Next Generation (Part2)

Let's continue the new series on AI (in) Coaching with Part 2. If you missed Part 1 you can read it here.

With the introduction of ChatGPT in November 2022, the landscape of AI coaching took a significant leap forward. The introduction of OpenAI's generative AI models provided a major boost in the quality of natural language interactions, making AI companions feel more human-like, natural and fluent in their conversations. This technological shift finally truly allowed coaching chatbots to go beyond scripted responses, while offering more dynamic and personalized coaching experiences in a much easier to apply scale than using natural language processing (NLP) technology alone, which was the traditional AI technology used until the arrival of GPT3 in 2020/21.

As a result, the market saw a huge influx of new players, while established innovators started integrating generative AI into their platforms almost immediately. Players like PocketConfidant and RockyAI quickly adopted generative AI to enhance their NLP-based systems, other player like evoach and then CoachVici launched hybrid versions of scripted and generative AI Coaches. Alongside these early adopters pivoting towards generative AI, new entrants started flooding the market and established digital coaching providers also released their own versions of AI Coaches offering different approaches to AI Coaching.

As the question about confidentiality and data compliance on different levels is the most common question popping up, I tried my best to rate them by their trustworthiness in regards to keeping to confidentiality requirements, based on all existing Coaching Code of Ethics by different coaching bodies worldwide. As I am personally located in the EU I am maybe more sensitive to this as others might be but I truly believe that as coaches we do have a responsibility to protect our clients data or at least be transparent about tools we use, in case they don't comply with highest standards and then partner with our clients on how to use them on an individual basis. I only distinguish between High and Low data compliance level for this article. A more thorough market overview with very detailed information and three levels of compliance will be available shortly for our Viva la Coaching community - this is truly a lot of work and I am still on this for a while!

Overview of current AI Coaches (TBC)

High data compliance level (GDPR compliance or similar e.g. CCPA)

?? indicates former Pioneers

?? is for new players after the launch of ChatGPT

• ?? Alpina by evoach - AI coaching companions , the day after Open AI officially released their API for GPT3.5 evoach launched a first version of their hybrid AI Coach Alpina on 8th March 2024. Alpina is now based on GPT4o in its standard version, integrating an ICF core competency based approach including positive psychology and clean language capabilities. Alpina is now mainly used for research project exploring the capabilities and limitations of latest Large Language models combined with different coaching or supervision approaches, models and techniques. Alpina has been evaluated for ICF competencies and has achieved a high ACC, low PCC level. (evoach will discontinue it's services as of Jan 2025, Alpina is still looking for a new home, I will keep you posted ;).
• ?? AIMY by CoachHub - The digital coaching platform : Shortly after evoach launched Alpina, CoachHub, a digital coaching service platform focused on executive and leadership development, launched its AI-powered AI coaching companion in April 2023, which also integrated voice as the first publicly available AI Coach. They now also integrate RAG to build company specific versions of AIMY for individual corporate use cases. AIMY also offers an end-user access point.
• ?? RockyAI by Rocky AI Coaching & Personal Development Platform is Rocky AI is an AI-powered coaching platform that offers an AI Coach for personalised, daily coaching interactions to help users meet their goals, engage in daily reflection, and supports the development of soft skills. Rocky enhances their NLP (natural language processing) techniques now with generative AI.
• ?? CoachVici by AI Coaching is a chatbot based on validated goal attainment theories. It's originally scripted flow has now been enhanced by generative AI. It was created by a team of coaches and researchers who used proven coaching and goal attainment theories. It is also the base for some of the best research published by it's creator Prof. Nicky Terblanche (PhD) . Make sure to follow Nicky's great work on ResearchGate.
• ?? AICoach Chat AIcoach.chat is an AI coach with a non-directive approach, customisable to include your company context and tailored to perform in a variety of specific use cases. It aims to orchestrate different AI agents to get a full-on coaching experience from topic identification to solution-focused sessions which is still in fine-tuning. They also offer a end-user version that can be tried out here.

• ?? Coachbot by CoachBot.ai is a promising newcomer in 2024 and solely targeted towards end-users (clients). They have a privacy first approach, which is even more important with a client-focused solution. You can try it out here in their Beta!
• ?? Lum.Ia and Jul.Ia by Luminous - The AI-coaching platform , an AI coach supporting self-reflection within a blended AI-powered self-coaching suite that boosts soft skills for sales and leadership. I supported them in the initial stages building it and it has a solid base rooted deeply in coaching theories. Only accessible with their Self+ Program.
• ?? Nadia by Valence, an I/O psychology based and voice-driven AI Coach that can be tailored to your organisation's use cases. I got to witness it in action at NYU conference this early summer and thought it interesting with great potential but still has a lot of room for improvement in regards to its coaching focus and skills. You can request a demo to learn more on their website.
• ?? CoachM by Lever - Transfer of Learning , a self-coaching tool that supports learners in a structured way to slow down and reflect on their specific learning commitments. It combines different communication channels which make it a bit harder to navigate but it is rooted in goal orientation theories and well designed overal.
• ?? Bunchee by BUNCH is an AI coach to help you overcome problems at work, while it does demonstrate coaching skills it is rather a learning companion paired with coaching tools that can also provide learning advice and tips for further content on the Bunch App. I loved Bunchees communication style and it is still in Beta and improving. Test it here
• ?? Bestselfy by bestselfy , an AI-powered pocket coach that develops employees' soft-skills for higher individual and team performance in 2019. Now they are providing a complete Coaching toolbox and offering LeadershipLabs.

Mid data compliance level (no GDPR compliance but CCPA or working on GDPR)

• ?? Sherlock by SherlockSuperCoach.AI is an solely AI-led coaching app, designed to support early career professionals, middle managers, and emerging leaders in large organizations through AI-driven coaching. Sherlock's AI conversations are voice enabled and tailor coaching or a mix of coaching and mentoring conversations to individual users customised to their individual data points. I loved how they blend professional coaching approaches with a great UI and user navigation. (While not yet GDPR compliant they already comply with CCPA and are in the process to comply with GDPR).
• ?? Rypple by Rypple.ai the AI leadership coach is also a newly launched project and still in Beta combining coaching with mentoring. They aim to develop hyper-personalized leadership coaching providing personalized, data-driven insights. I am still testing it and might comment further on it soon (they are in the process to get CCPA and GDPR compliance). Try it here

Low-data compliance level

• ?? Replika an AI companion originally designed for companionship, pivoted toward integrating coaching into its platform, focusing on mental wellness and emotional support as part of its coaching companion strategy. With ChatGPT's conversational AI, Replika expanded its capabilities to provide goal-oriented coaching beyond emotional support. (They have been banned in 2023 for not complying with GDPR).

Create your own

There are also different platforms where users can easily create their own AI companions that are especially popular with genZ users such as character.ai, poe.com, hugging face chat or Open AI's GPT Store. You can find a huge variety of AI companions, friends or assistant sthere or even create your own. Be aware that if you use these platforms directly and enter confidential user data you should aim to opt-out of them using your data for training purposes if possible (it is possible for Pro or Teams users on OpenAI).

Providers of "clone yourself" solutions are also gaining traction with players like Coachvox AI targeting also coaches. These are mainly AI clones for lead generation not AI Coaches per my previous definition. What's great is that clients can get a feeling for your coaching style, get answers to questions or go through an onboarding session. Unfortunately (as is part of the deal for lead generation) users are sharing all their transcripts and information back with the creator and I couldn't find any details on which AI models their platform is using or how they are complying with GDPR. There are more players out their gaining traction in this fiel, but that is a story for another chapter. Rock.ai is offering a more in depths solution for coaches where you can create your own App and clones based on all your books and other materials which is in compliance with coaching ethics and also GDPR.

Where the Market is Heading

As generative AI continues to evolve, the future of AI Coaching has just started. While AI-driven chatbots may maybe never fully replace human coaches, their role in supporting personal and professional development will undoubtedly grow. The next wave of innovation will likely see increased personalisation, with AI companions becoming more adept at understanding the nuances of individual behaviour, personality, and goals. Voice-enabled coaches will be more common as soon as pricing for voice supporting models is coming down. Currently we are talking about 18,-€ for a 1h conversation using current generative AI models capable of handling speech to speech.

Moreover, we can expect further integration of AI coaching into organisational systems, where AI works in tandem with human coaches to offer scalable coaching solutions, enhance employee engagement, and improve overall performance. With AI able to provide continuous feedback loops, the future of coaching is poised to be a collaborative endeavor between humans and machines.

Especially since the launch of the new Copilot by Microsoft, the future entered our current reality through the integration of AI companions into our everyday work (desktop) or privat devices (smartphones, tablets). It has just begun.

Part 3: "Mental Health AI Coaches" coming up next!

Writing this overview I realised that there is a whole section of AI Coaches that combine Coaching with Mental Health or Wellbeing approaches rooted in psychology theories like the freshly launched Ebb by Headspace . They are mostly based cognitive behaviour therapy or like in Ebb's case on motivational interviewing and often act very similar to many AI Coaches based on elated theories. Many coaching approaches like Solution-Focused, CBC, Narrative and so on are deeply rooted in therapy. Therefore I decided to add an overview of AI Mental Health Coaches as Part 3 coming up next. So stay tuned!