Introducing Immerse Companion: Cornerstone’s Cutting-Edge Generative AI Pushing XR Boundaries with Virtual Human Companions

New generative AI technology will significantly expand access to personalized learning, coaching, and expert-led skill-building in the flow of work

Cornerstone OnDemand Inc., a leader in workforce agility solutions, today at UNLEASH World announced Immerse Companion, its new generative artificial intelligence (AI) solution that delivers real-time experiences with virtual human companions. Powered by Cornerstone’s proprietary companion generative AI technology, Immerse Companion enables employees to engage in learning role-play, coaching and mentoring sessions, and expert-led skill building in real-time and on-demand.

Whether your employees are practicing conversations like high-stakes negotiations or getting personalized career guidance, Immerse Companion transforms talent development into an engaging, practical experience — helping teams build confidence, develop skills faster, and gain proficiency in real-world scenarios.

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Key features of Immerse Companion include:

  • Personalized at scale, on-demand: tailored, one-on-one interactions with generative AI-powered virtual coaches, mentors and subject matter experts 24/7, which allows for real-time experiences that adapt to individual needs, ensuring every individual receives a personalized and impactful training experience. The solution’s virtual companions provide immediate, actionable insights and guidance whenever needed.
  • Real-world practice in a safe environment: individuals can engage in emotionally realistic role-play for critical workplace scenarios, empowering them to practice skills in a safe place and learn from failure without the fear of real-world consequences.
  • Powered by Cornerstone Companion: Cornerstone’s Companion generative AI technology leverages its trusted data to deliver individual support across the workforce lifecycle, including 40+ terabytes of labor market data that is updated daily, 30 million learning hours per month, and 140 million users across more than 7,000 customers.
  • Multiple modalities: accessible anytime across multiple modalities; anywhere via the Cornerstone Immerse platform, on VR headsets and web-based streaming.

Immerse Companion was created leveraging AI avatar technology developed by Talespin, a leading immersive learning company whose capabilities and domain experts were acquired by Cornerstone in 2024. First announced in 2019, Talespin’s AI avatar technology gained popularity for employee soft skills development and is deployed by enterprises across industries.

“Historically 1:1 personalized training has been difficult to scale, but with Immerse Companion, that changes,” said Himanshu Palsule, CEO of Cornerstone. “This innovation isn’t just about democratizing information, mentorship and practice — it’s a major indication of the next age of the human experience where our recent research shows that demand and mastery of human skills is even more essential in the age of AI. Immerse Companion offers an unmatched level of interaction through virtual human companions, reflecting the core technologies that are shaping our Galaxy vision, where the human experience remains central to everything we do.”

“One of the best ways to learn is through experience,” said Josh Bersin, Global Industry Analyst and CEO of The Josh Bersin Company. “Exciting new platforms like Immerse Companion let employees learn, practice, and get expert feedback from AI, just like a real expert coach. This is where corporate training is going.”

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