Microsoft introduces Mico: a visual incarnation of Copilot designed to make conversations more personal and human, but mainly reminiscent of Clippy.
Microsoft launches its fall update for Microsoft Copilot and introduces Mico. Mico is a cheerful blob with a face that serves as a conversation partner for those who use Copilot Voice. Microsoft hopes that those who use Mico will forget the technology behind Copilot and be drawn into the conversation.
Reacting Blob
Mico responds to conversations in real-time through animations and facial expressions. If you tell a sad story, the blob will look sad. Mico is optional but designed to provide a warmer and more human experience. The character changes color depending on the interaction and actively responds to user questions.
Microsoft states that the AI adapts to the user’s personal style and preferences, without overly affirmative behavior. According to the company, Copilot can respectfully disagree when relevant. You can guess where the visual incarnation of Microsoft Copilot gets its name.
Intrusive, Irrelevant, or Something else?
Microsoft has an interesting history when it comes to digital assistants. The memory of Clippy, always ready to help but rarely able to, is never far away. The intrusive paperclip with good intentions may have been functionally worthless, but it was memorable. Less memorable was Microsoft’s attempt to give the Cortana assistant a voice and personality, mainly because the technology was not yet mature.
Whether fame or oblivion awaits Mico remains to be seen. The DNA of Clippy seems to be present: Microsoft is reaching great heights when it comes to imposing Copilot in general. In any case, we in Europe will have to be patient. The anthropomorphic blob edition of Copilot is initially coming exclusively to the US.
Other Innovations
Mico is not the only novelty for the fall update of Copilot. Microsoft is highlighting several other improvements, including the following six features.
- Groups: Users can collaborate with up to 32 people simultaneously in shared Copilot sessions.
- Imagine: AI creations can be viewed, customized, and shared in a shared creative space.
- Real Talk: Copilot should offer honest, respectful feedback that helps users refine their ideas.
- Long-term memory: Copilot remembers personal information and conversations for later use.
- Connectors: Copilot connects with other cloud services and enables searching across multiple accounts.
- Proactive actions: The assistant independently suggests insights and follow-up steps based on recent behavior.
This functionality is also initially only available in the US. A rollout to the UK, Canada, and other markets will follow in the coming weeks. The EU will probably have to wait a little longer due to stricter regulations.