Microsoft’s AI Clippy: Meet Mico
▼ Summary
– Microsoft is introducing Mico, a new animated virtual character for Copilot’s voice mode, as its latest attempt at an AI assistant after Clippy and Cortana.
– Mico responds with real-time facial expressions during conversations and is now enabled by default in Copilot’s voice mode in the US, UK, and Canada.
– The assistant includes a Learn Live mode that acts as a Socratic tutor, using interactive whiteboards and visual cues to guide learning for students or language learners.
– Microsoft aims to give Copilot a permanent identity and presence, with Mico being part of a broader initiative to encourage people to talk to their computers.
– Mico features Easter eggs, such as a special response when poked quickly, and represents Microsoft’s ongoing effort to overcome the challenge of making AI conversations feel natural.
Nearly three decades have passed since Microsoft’s animated paperclip, Clippy, first popped up in Office applications, often interrupting users with unsolicited help. Following Clippy’s retirement with Office XP in 2001, Microsoft attempted another digital assistant with Cortana on Windows Phone. While the underlying technology wasn’t mature enough back then, the company is now launching Mico, a new animated character designed specifically for Copilot’s voice mode.
Jacob Andreou, Microsoft AI’s Corporate VP of Product and Growth, humorously remarked, “Clippy walked so that we could run.” Microsoft has been quietly testing Mico, pronounced to rhyme with “pico”, for several months. This virtual entity responds with real-time facial expressions during conversations. Mico is now enabled by default within Copilot’s voice mode, though users retain the option to disable the animated orb if they prefer.
Andreou elaborates on the experience, noting, “You can watch Mico react as you speak. If you mention something sad, its expressions shift almost instantly. The technology becomes invisible, letting you focus on interacting with this charming orb and forming a genuine connection.”
Initially, Mico will only be accessible to users in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. This new Copilot character will also utilize a fresh memory capability within Copilot, allowing it to recall details about you and your ongoing projects.
Microsoft is introducing a Learn Live mode for Mico, transforming the character into a Socratic-style tutor. Instead of simply providing answers, it guides users through concepts step by step. This mode incorporates interactive whiteboards and visual aids, appearing particularly useful for students studying for exams or individuals practicing a new language.
Establishing a distinct identity for Copilot remains a key objective, as Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman indicated earlier this year. He stated in July, “Copilot will certainly have a kind of permanent identity, a presence, and it will have a room that it lives in, and it will age.”
Mico represents a central component of Microsoft’s latest campaign encouraging people to converse with their computers. The company is airing television commercials promoting the newest Windows 11 PCs as “the computer you can talk to.” This follows Microsoft’s earlier attempt to popularize Cortana on Windows 10 PCs about ten years ago, an initiative that ultimately led to the Cortana app being discontinued on Windows 11.
While Mico demonstrates significantly more advanced capabilities than either Clippy or Cortana, Microsoft still confronts the familiar hurdle of persuading users that talking to a computer or phone feels natural. Similar to its predecessors, Mico will include hidden surprises as part of a refreshed effort to make AI assistants more engaging.
Andreou hints, “It’s funny you mention Clippy; there is an Easter egg when you get to try Mico. If you poke Mico very very quickly, something special may happen. We all live in Clippy’s shadow in some sense.”
(Source: The Verge)
