Mico is Microsoft’s Clippy for the AI age

What if Clippy were powered by AI? That seems to be the pitch behind Microsoft’s new “expressive, customizable and warm” face of Copilot’s voice mode. The friendly blob listens, reacts and changes color in response to user interactions.

Microsoft sees Mico as an answer to what an “AI companion” looks like. The “optional visual presence” aims to listen and support without kissing ass. “It will push back on you sometimes, but always respectfully,” Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman  wrote in a blog post.

But don’t take my word for it. Get ready for the most exciting 39 seconds of your day, as you watch Mico silently spin and shift hues.

Clippy — I mean, Mico — is also part of a new Copilot feature called Learn Live. The student-focused voice mode will have Mico act as a Socratic tutor that “guides you through concepts instead of just giving answers.” Its tools will include questions, visual cues and interactive whiteboards.

The Verge reports that Mico is only available in the US, UK and Canada at launch. The character is now being enabled by default for Copilot’s voice mode. But you can turn it off if talking to fictional characters isn’t your thing.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/mico-is-microsofts-clippy-for-the-ai-age-174524597.html?src=rss