Here's a hot comment: I've always liked Clippy. Perhaps it's because I was an only child, but as useless as the animated paperclip (officially known as “Clippit” by the way) was for advice, I did enjoy having a buddy on my desk while I worked on my essay. Now Microsoft is bringing that same energy back, but for artificial intelligence. And finally, I think I understand Clippy's hatred.
A character named Miko is part of Autumn release of the second pilotwhich includes a dozen new updates. Some of them are what you'd expect: there's a new memory feature that ensures each new conversation doesn't start from scratch, and better integration with external apps like Gmail or Google Calendar. But there are some other interesting ideas, too, like using Edge's co-pilot mode (which originally released in July) to continue old browsing sessions from where you left offeven if you have already closed all your tabs.
However, the most surprising update for Microsoft is the return to its old trends of animated mascots. Miko is not the first AI companion, nor is she the most expressive. Grok will sell you for all anime girlfriendif you like it. But it does harken back to a lineage I once thought was long buried (and I now realize, perhaps for good reason).
Like Clippy and unlike Grok, Miko leans more towards the cute side of things and is just a small smiling disembodied blob. This is completely optional, but the idea is that it works with Copilot's voice input to make you feel like you're being listened to, changing color and reacting based on the tone of the conversation.
If this all sounds a little vague, that's because Mico (and the rest of Copilot's fall release) is still a work in progress. I don't have access to it yet, so the best I can do is watch this video posted by Microsoft.
However, the idea is clearly to make the AI friendlier. Microsoft announced Miko in a post titled “Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence” and highlighted the character's debut alongside a new “real talk” mode that the company says “carefully challenges assumptions, adapts to your atmosphere, and helps conversations drive growth and connection.”
And I think this is where I'm finally starting to raise my eyebrows a little bit. On the other hand, in the Microsoft video, Miko does not appear to actually speak, but plays a simple animation. He won't be able to form a parasocial relationship with you to the same degree as Elon Musk's animated AI girlfriend, who has a romantic streak to level up. On the other hand, it still seems like a way to let your guard down.
Describing Miko EdgeJacob Andreu, corporate vice president of product and development for Microsoft AI, said, “All the technology fades into the background and you just start talking to this cute ball and building a connection with it.”
But what does it mean to be “associated” with a person who is inextricably linked to the product?
Essentially, thanks to Mico, you're now looking at a big smiley face whenever you interact with Microsoft's artificial intelligence, even though it keeps try looking at the screenor redirect your web trafficor fill your computer with functions that, according to testing carried out TechRadarmay reduce performance. Maybe it's really me must Be alert when interacting with AI and don't let technology fade from my mind.
For example, Mico's release came a week after Microsoft announced its “Make every Windows 11 PC an AI PCIt's no surprise that a company wants to appear friendly by advertising features that take action for you based on simple voice commands. But am I comfortable with a future where I just tell my computer what I want, with little to no direct involvement, and expect the company that runs and powers the cloud to know what that means?
To some extent, I see this as a convenience. But it also leaves me at the mercy of Microsoft's whims, and it's hard not to see Miko's friendly smile as a way to frame this as something good rather than a loss of control. At least Clippy could look sarcastic.
Maybe I'm exaggerating, but on the same blog where Microsoft introduced Mico, it also debuted.”Co-pilot for healthand “Learn Live.” In the first case, the company actively encourages you to ask questions about your health to its AI, while the second supposedly allows Copilot to act as a “voice-assisted Socratic mentor.” face security threats And accusations of model failureI remain skeptical about allowing him to help self-diagnose or educate my child.
And maybe it's my fault. When I finally get the fall release of Copilot, it will have a chance to shine. But Miko is exactly the talisman that is designed to dispel skepticism while he is still healthy. This benefits Microsoft, but “corporate-centric AI” and “human-centric AI” are not the same thing.
At best, I think Miko will seem unpleasant, as is usually the case with forced positivity. But at its worst, it feels like a first attempt at making your computer look like a friend you're making requests of, rather than a machine you own. While users are fighting for right to repair and warn about decline in technical literacy Among people who spend all their time on computers, it's hard not to see the idea of a co-pilot as a friend rather than something more sinister.
Clippy connections aren't just in my head, for what it's worth. Andreu also told The Verge that “Clippy walked so that we [Mico] I could run away.” But as Halloween approaches, I'd like to remind Microsoft that sometimes it's better to die.
