{"id":235068,"date":"2025-10-23T18:52:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T18:52:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/235068\/"},"modified":"2025-10-23T18:52:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T18:52:09","slug":"microsofts-mico-is-a-clippy-for-the-ai-era","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/235068\/","title":{"rendered":"Microsoft’s Mico is a ‘Clippy’ for the AI era"},"content":{"rendered":"

Microsoft has a new Clippy, and it\u2019s an AI friend called Mico. At the company\u2019s Copilot fall release<\/a> press event on Thursday, the company introduced a range of new features and updates for its AI chatbot, but one that telegraphed how the tech giant intends to bring AI to consumers was the official introduction of its AI chatbot\u2019s \u201cface\u201d \u2014 an expressive avatar blob named Mico. <\/p>\n

The company explains<\/a> that Mico (its name a nod to \u201cMicrosoft Copilot\u201d) is meant to offer consumers a \u201cwarm\u201d and \u201ccustomizable\u201d visual presence that \u201clistens, reacts, and even changes colors to reflect your interactions.\u201d <\/p>\n

If the talking AI helper immediately brings to mind Microsoft\u2019s infamous productivity assistant, Clippy, you wouldn\u2019t be wrong in thinking that. It seems that Microsoft has decided to embrace the reference to its age-old companion, as there\u2019s even an Easter egg<\/a> where, if you tap Mico a number of times, it will transform<\/a> into Clippy.<\/p>\n

The feature is enabled by default when you\u2019re using Copilot\u2019s voice mode, but users can turn it off if they choose. It\u2019s initially available in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., and will be able to save memories of your conversations and learn from your feedback, Microsoft says. <\/p>\n

A \u201cLearn Live\u201d mode for U.S. users can make Copilot a tutor that guides you through concepts instead of just providing an answer. The company notes it\u2019s made other improvements in areas like health-related questions and deep research, too. <\/p>\n

\u201cAs we build this,\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0not chasing engagement or\u00a0optimizing for\u00a0screen time.\u00a0We\u2019re\u00a0building\u00a0AI\u00a0that gets you back to your life. That deepens human connection. That earns your trust,\u201d wrote<\/a> CEO of Microsoft AI, Mustafa Suleyman, in an announcement.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Microsoft is not the only chatbot maker to anthropomorphize its AI. Market leader ChatGPT, for instance, offers a visual experience as well, with a number of different voice options<\/a>. Meanwhile, xAI\u2019s Grok has turned its AI into risque AI companions.<\/a> Across the app stores, AI companion apps are already pulling in millions<\/a>, indicating there is consumer demand for AI characters to some extent.<\/p>\n

However, whether or not consumers will respond to Mico\u2019s floating blob remains to be seen.<\/p>\n

The company says it\u2019s also working to evolve Copilot\u2019s personality and tone, with the introduction of a new mode called \u201cReal Talk.\u201d This will allow the AI to mirror the user\u2019s conversational style, but won\u2019t be as sycophantic as other AI assistants have been<\/a>. Instead, Microsoft says that it will feel like something that\u2019s \u201cgrounded in its own perspective,\u201d and will push back and challenge your ideas, which could encourage you to see things from a different perspective.<\/p>\n

\"\"MicoImage Credits:Microsoft<\/p>\n

Finding a balance between a helpful, conversational AI and one that leads users down rabbit holes has proven tricky. Several<\/a> incidents<\/a> of AI chatbot psychosis<\/a> have been reported, where AI users come to have their delusional beliefs reinforced by their conversation with the chatbot. <\/p>\n

The fall Copilot update introduced a number of other new features to Microsoft\u2019s AI, including the ability to bring friends into your Copilot AI chats, support for long-term memory, connectors to link productivity apps like email and cloud storage, and expanded AI integrations for its browser, Microsoft Edge<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The company said it\u2019s working to evolve Edge into an AI browser that would be able to see your tabs, summarize and compare information, and take action for you on things like booking a hotel or filling out forms. This would allow Edge to compete with other AI browsers, including OpenAI\u2019s ChatGPT Atlas, Perplexity\u2019s Comet, Dia, and others, as well as market leader Chrome, which has integrated its Gemini AI. <\/p>\n

All of today’s @Copilot<\/a> announcements boil down to one core idea: we’re betting on humanist AI. An AI that always puts humans first.
\u2013 Copilot Groups
\u2013 AI browser
\u2013 our new character Mico
\u2013 memory updates
\u2013 Copilot for health
+ more in this morning’s event https:\/\/t.co\/GNtBAC8Nh6<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/dZaQ9SmbFG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mustafa Suleyman (@mustafasuleyman) October 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n