As we speak, Microsoft launched Mico, a brand new and extra private avatar for the AI-powered Copilot digital assistant, which the corporate describes as human-centered.
This new avatar is designed to be extra supportive and empathetic, however may also push again when introduced with incorrect info, “all the time respectfully.”
In keeping with Microsoft, Mico additionally listens, learns, and “earns your belief,” not like the closely parodied and criticized Clippy, the default Microsoft Workplace assistant for 4 years, or the Cortana Home windows digital assistant, which Copilot changed in September 2023.
“This non-compulsory visible presence listens, reacts, and even adjustments colours to replicate your interactions, making voice conversations really feel extra pure. Mico exhibits assist by animation and expressions, making a pleasant and fascinating expertise,” Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman mentioned in a Thursday weblog publish.
“Individually, discover dialog types like actual speak, which presents a collaborative mannequin that challenges assumptions with care, adapts to your vibe, and helps conversations spark progress and connection.”
On Thursday, Suleyman additionally introduced that the Copilot Fall Launch introduces Copilot Teams, which permits as much as 32 individuals to collaborate in actual time inside the similar Copilot session.
Copilot now additionally has long-term reminiscence, enabling customers to maintain monitor of their ideas and to-do lists, whereas the Reminiscence & Personalization characteristic permits it to recollect vital particulars, akin to appointments or anniversaries, for future interactions.
The Deep Analysis Proactive Actions functionality helps Copilot present well timed insights and recommend subsequent steps primarily based in your current actions, and a brand new Study Dwell characteristic will rework Copilot right into a voice-enabled tutor that guides you thru ideas utilizing “questions, visible cues, and interactive whiteboards.”
Mico and the opposite new Copilot options launched at this time can be found for customers in america. They’re anticipated to roll out to extra areas, akin to Canada and the UK, over the approaching weeks.
One week in the past, Microsoft rolled out the “Hey Copilot” wake phrase, an opt-in characteristic that enables customers to speak to their Home windows 11 computer systems, and in addition introduced that Copilot can now generate Workplace paperwork and hook up with Microsoft and third-party accounts, akin to Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Calendar.
As a part of the identical effort to increase Copilot’s attain to extra prospects, Redmond enabled the Gaming Copilot “private gaming sidekick” on Home windows 11 PCs for customers aged 18 or older and rolled out the content-aware Copilot Chat to Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote for paying Microsoft 365 enterprise prospects.

