Microsoft has brought back the spirit of its old Office assistant with the launch of a new virtual character called Mico. The character is part of Copilot’s voice mode and responds in real-time with facial expressions when you talk to it. Mico will be available in the US at launch and features a memory function that allows it to surface facts learned about you and your work.
Mico aims to give Copilot an identity, making it more engaging and interactive. It also includes a Learn Live mode that functions as a Socratic tutor, guiding users through concepts with visual cues and interactive whiteboards. The goal is to make people feel comfortable talking to their computers.
Although Mico is designed to be more capable than its predecessors, such as Cortana and Clippy, Microsoft will still need to overcome the challenge of convincing people that speaking to a PC isn’t weird. To address this, Mico features Easter eggs, including an amusing surprise for those who interact with it quickly.
Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman had previously stated that Copilot would have a permanent identity and presence, which is embodied by Mico’s character. The new initiative aims to encourage people to talk to their computers, similar to Microsoft’s efforts in the past.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/804106/microsoft-mico-copilot-ai-assistant-clippy