Microsoft revives friendly AI helper with Mico
The new character aims to be friendly, useful, and easy to disable.
Microsoft has unveiled a new AI companion called Mico, designed to replace the infamous Clippy as the friendly face of its Copilot assistant. The animated avatar, shaped like a glowing flame or blob, reacts emotionally and visually during conversations with users.
Executives said Mico aims to balance warmth and utility, offering human-like cues without becoming intrusive. Unlike Clippy, the character can easily be switched off and is intended to feel supportive rather than persistent or overly personal.
Mico’s launch reflects growing debate about personality in AI assistants as tech firms navigate ethical concerns. Microsoft stressed that its focus remains on productivity and safety, distancing itself from flirtatious or emotionally manipulative AI designs seen elsewhere.
The character will first appear in US versions of Copilot on laptops and mobile apps. Microsoft also revealed an AI tutoring mode for students, reinforcing its efforts to create more educational and responsibly designed AI experiences.
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