As an older millennial, I vividly remember Clippy. While my memories of Microsoft’s animated paperclip aren’t particularly warm, it’s certainly unforgettable. This often ineffective assistant would pop up with tips in Microsoft Word, frequently hindering productivity. Now, Microsoft is testing another virtual assistant. Although it’s not precisely Clippy 2.0, the new Copilot Appearance trial from Copilot Labs gives off strong Clippy vibes.
Microsoft states, “Copilot Appearance is an experiment that provides a novel, visual method to interact with Copilot, showcasing real-time expressions, voice, and conversational memory.”
Copilot, Microsoft’s AI assistant powered by ChatGPT, is accessible on numerous Windows laptops and products. The new Appearance feature lets you assign Copilot a face — one resembling a marshmallow or an emoji.
Participants in the Copilot testing can engage with the multicolored face and observe it react in real-time. While AI chatbots have gained immense popularity since ChatGPT’s launch, the experience mainly revolves around text and voice. Though AI avatars like xAI’s anime characters respond to prompts, this technology has fallen behind traditional chatbots.
Copilot Appearance could greatly enhance this technology for broader adoption. However, as illustrated in the film Her, giving AI chatbots human-like qualities comes with dangers. By crafting a Copilot Appearance avatar that’s irresistibly adorable, Microsoft may further popularize the trend of anthropomorphism, for better or worse.
It’s worth noting that the experimental new face of Copilot doesn’t have a designated name, though users could still invent a nickname. Clippy’s official title was Clippit, but few remember this fact.
How to enable Copilot Appearance
Presently, Copilot Appearance is available to select users in the U.S., the UK, and Canada under the Copilot Labs initiative.
Microsoft explains that activating Copilot Appearance is straightforward:
1. Enter Voice mode
2. Navigate to the “Voice settings” menu
3. Toggle on Copilot Appearance.
If there is no toggle for Copilot Appearance, you do not have access to this feature.