What are Intelligent Items considered?

[RigaMortus]

INTELLIGENT ITEMS
Magic items sometimes have intelligence of their own. Magically imbued with sentience, these items think and feel the same way characters do and should be treated as NPCs. Intelligent items have extra abilities and sometimes extraordinary powers and special purposes. Only permanent magic items (as opposed to single-use items or those with charges) can be intelligent. (This means that potions, scrolls, and wands, among other items, are never intelligent.) In general, less than 1% of magic items have intelligence.
Intelligent items can actually be considered creatures because they have Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. Treat them as constructs. Intelligent items often have the ability to illuminate their surroundings at will (as magic weapons do); many cannot see otherwise.
Unlike most magic items, intelligent items can activate their own powers without waiting for a command word from their owner. Intelligent items act during their owner’s turn in the initiative order.

I am just curious what intelligent items are and are not considered? For example, in the description above it clearly states to treat them as NPCs and creatures (constructs). But are they also considered gear? Is an Intelligent sword considered BOTH a weapon and an NPC creature (construct)? Or is it just an NPC creature?

If I cast a spell on myself which affects me and my gear, will it also affect the Intelligent Weapon? Certainly if I had a pixie hidding in my backpack and cast such a spell, it would not affect the pixie because it is a creature, not part of my gear. So does the same hold true with Intelligent Weapons?

Would I be able to cast GMW on an Intelligent Sword? What about Magic Fang?

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?