Close enough: Welcome back, Clippy.
Microsoft Copilot announced it has updated its AI companion to bolster its personality and appearance — and it has given it a name. Say hello to Mico.
In a blog announcing Mico and its Copilot fall release, Microsoft wrote that it was looking to build an AI companion that made life easier for people. The central idea is that “technology should work in service of people,” wrote Mustafa Suleyman , the head of Microsoft AI.
Wrote Suleyman in the note:
“Copilot now connects you to yourself, to others, and to the tools you use every day. It’s there for you, helps you stay organized, and even supports your health. It brings people together in shared chats, helps you learn with voice and visuals, and shows up with warmth, personality and even an appearance: Mico.”
That’s all well and good, but come on, we’re all going to compare Mico to Clippy, the (beloved?) paperclip that helped us navigate Microsoft programs back in the day. As Mashable’s Timothy Beck Werth wrote about Mico back when it was an experiment, the “marshmallow, emoji-like face” cannot help but give “major Clippy vibes.”
Microsoft’s blog stated that Mico should feel like a personalized experience and that the AI companion will speak to users conversationally. The updates to Copilot, including Mico, went live in the U.S. and should roll out elsewhere soon.