Microsoft Revives Clippy Spirit with Mico, a New AI Companion What if the famously intrusive but memorable Clippy from old versions of Microsoft Office were reborn with modern artificial intelligence? Microsoft is answering that question with Mico, a new expressive and customizable face for its Copilot AI voice mode. This friendly, blob-like character is designed to be an optional visual presence that listens, reacts, and changes color based on user interactions. Microsoft positions Mico as the visual embodiment of an AI companion. The goal is to create a presence that listens and offers support without being a simple yes-machine. According to Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, Mico is designed to be respectful but will sometimes push back on the user, aiming for a more balanced interaction. A short demonstration video shows Mico in action. The character silently spins and shifts through a palette of colors, providing a non-verbal, animated response to the conversation. This visual feedback is intended to make the AI interaction feel more engaging and less like talking to a void. Beyond general use, Mico is a central part of a new Copilot feature called Learn Live, which is focused on students. In this mode, Mico acts as a Socratic tutor, guiding learners through concepts with questions and visual cues rather than simply providing direct answers. The feature will include tools like interactive whiteboards to facilitate this learning process. At its launch, Mico is reported to be available only in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. The character is being enabled by default for users of Copilot’s voice mode in those regions. However, for those who prefer a purely auditory experience, the option to turn off the visual companion remains available. The introduction of Mico signals a continued effort by tech companies to personify AI, making it more relatable and intuitive for everyday users by giving it a friendly, approachable face reminiscent of a classic digital assistant.
