Clippy Lives On: Microsoft’s Mico Brings Personality Back to AI

Microsoft has introduced a new personality to its assistant for Copilot voice mode called Mico. The character is like a modern version of Clippy, the office helper from the late 90s. Microsoft’s goal with Mico is to make interacting with AI more personal, expressive, and natural.

Micro reacts in real-time with emotions like smiling, frowning, or changing expressions as you talk. It will launch in the US, UK, and Canada, and is built into Copilot’s voice mode. Users will be able to turn it off if they prefer a simpler interface, too. Micro also uses Copilot’s new memory system, letting it recall details about you for a more personal experience.

There is also a new Learn Live mode, which lets Mico act like a Socratic tutor, walking users through concepts step-by-step. It uses interactive whiteboards and visual aids, which are all great for students or language learners

An easter egg is also included with Mico. If you click or tap Mico multiple times, it will briefly transform into Clippy. It is a playful callback to Microsoft’s most iconic character. This shows how Microsoft still has a sense of humor and awareness of its past. Jacob Anderou commented that “ Clippy walked so we could run.”

Mico is a part of Microsoft’s push to make talking to your computer normal again. As seen I their ads for the Windows 11 PCs. Mico is also smarter, more emotional, and feels more human-like compared to Cortana, Microsoft's old assistant. Mico is a sign of both nostalgia and progress. Proof that AI can have personality without being weird and annoying.

Do you think Mico is better than Clippy? If you could, would you bring back Clippy and make it smarter? Will Mico make you use Copilot more? Let us know in the comments!

Source: The Verge Images and GIF: The Verge and Microsoft