Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Microsoft's Clippy Returns as Easter Egg in 'Humanist AI' Copilot Update

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
69,741
41,094


Microsoft's Clippy has been resurrected for a cameo appearance in the company's latest Copilot update, which broadly aims to make its AI assistant more friendly, warm, and human-centered in its interactions.

Copilot-Mico-1536x864.jpeg

Microsoft's Copilot Fall Release introduces Mico – an animated orb that serves as the voice mode's visual companion. Mico (its name a nod to Microsoft Copilot) listens, reacts, and changes colors based on the user's interactions, with the aim of giving the AI chatbot a cuter, more approachable presence.

That said, Microsoft's attempt to soften its AI offering could backfire if users tap Mico repeatedly – the action briefly turns Mico into Clippy (officially named Clippit), the animated paperclip assistant that first appeared in Office 97 and became a fixture on both Windows and Mac versions of Office throughout the late 90s and early 2000s.

As irritating as it was iconic, the polarizing helper was retired by Microsoft with Office 2007, but it clearly hasn't given up on the character-driven assistant approach, just now with better graphics and modern AI capabilities.

Note that Mico is optional, and users can interact with Copilot without the character.

Mico launches alongside several other Copilot features including Real Talk mode, which offers an AI that "challenges assumptions with care, adapts to your vibe, and helps conversations spark growth and connection." There's also a new group chat system supporting up to 30 participants and a Learn Live mode designed to guide students through concepts as a Socratic tutor. The Copilot Mode in Edge browser has also been expanded.


The new features are available now in the U.S. and "rolling out fast" across the UK and Canada, with a broader rollout happening in the next few weeks, according to the company. You can learn more about the latest Copilot announcements on Microsoft's website.

The Copilot app is available for iOS and Mac, and users also have the option of accessing the AI features by visiting copilot.microsoft.com in Edge or another browser.

Article Link: Microsoft's Clippy Returns as Easter Egg in 'Humanist AI' Copilot Update
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/10/24/microsoft-clippy-returns-copilot-update/
  • Like
Reactions: drrich2
It'd be interesting to see them offer a range of options instead of just one. Then the question would turn to whether there'd be options sexualized, politicized, caricatured, etc.

I've long thought that late standup comedian who was abrasive and shrieked at people would make a great GPS assistant...if you like insulting, snarky commentary on your driving (e.g.: you miss a turn and the voice, dripping with contemptuous sarcasm, says 'Oh, ho! Somebody wants the scenic route. Well-well-well...'
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: DocMultimedia, averagemacnjoyer and orbital~debris
I fully understand Microsoft's decision. Their language model didn't have the personality ChatGPT had from the start. However, this should have been considered long ago. Now that the ship has sailed, LLM's synonym is ChatGPT, not Copilot. For the same reason, I don't know if I will abandon Claude/ChatGPT when Apple releases its conversational version of Siri. I doubt it; I've become accustomed to them and have no desire to learn something that almost certainly won't be better, and the only advantage will be that it's built into the system.
 
MS's forcing Windows users to run Windows 11 and their effective trashing of hundreds of thousands of perfectly functional but unupgradeable Windows 10 PCs was one of the main factors that pushed me to switch to MacOS three years ago.

Their forcing Windows 11 users to have the taskbar at the bottom of the screen and preventing third-party app providers from allowing it to be positioned elsewhere was another.

Their forcing Copilot on Windows and Office users (they later relented and let users turn it off, though that didn't remove the button from Microsoft 365 ribbons) pushed me to unsubscribe from 365 and buy the standalone Office, which doesn't have Copilot.

I used to think they were moving in the right direction. Now I think they've reverted to their old ways of knowing what's best for users and not caring in the slightest if users disagree.

Apple's guilty of this too (see Liquid Glass) but not as egregiously.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Will Co
MacRumors said:


Microsoft's Clippy has been resurrected for a cameo appearance in the company's latest Copilot update, which broadly aims to make its AI assistant more friendly, warm, and human-centered in its interactions.

Copilot-Mico-1536x864.jpeg

Microsoft's Copilot Fall Release introduces Mico – an animated orb that serves as the voice mode's visual companion. Mico (its name a nod to Microsoft Copilot) listens, reacts, and changes colors based on the user's interactions, with the aim of giving the AI chatbot a cuter, more approachable presence.

That said, Microsoft's attempt to soften its AI offering could backfire if users tap Mico repeatedly – the action briefly turns Mico into Clippy (officially named Clippit), the animated paperclip assistant that first appeared in Office 97 and became a fixture on both Windows and Mac versions of Office throughout the late 90s and early 2000s.

As irritating as it was iconic, the polarizing helper was retired by Microsoft with Office 2007, but it clearly hasn't given up on the character-driven assistant approach, just now with better graphics and modern AI capabilities.

Note that Mico is optional, and users can interact with Copilot without the character.

Mico launches alongside several other Copilot features including Real Talk mode, which offers an AI that "challenges assumptions with care, adapts to your vibe, and helps conversations spark growth and connection." There's also a new group chat system supporting up to 30 participants and a Learn Live mode designed to guide students through concepts as a Socratic tutor. The Copilot Mode in Edge browser has also been expanded.


The new features are available now in the U.S. and "rolling out fast" across the UK and Canada, with a broader rollout happening in the next few weeks, according to the company. You can learn more about the latest Copilot announcements on Microsoft's website.

The Copilot app is available for iOS and Mac, and users also have the option of accessing the AI features by visiting copilot.microsoft.com in Edge or another browser.

Article Link: Microsoft's Clippy Returns as Easter Egg in 'Humanist AI' Copilot Update
Click to expand...
I see that you’re helping use more electricity than most small towns in order to make a stupid internet meme; would you like some help? Some professional help? Medication? Seriously?
 
  • Like
Reactions: carswell and Will Co
Real talk mode sounds interesting. Grok has absolutely insane modes....conspiracy mode is bizarre but even the motivational mode will mock and swear at you to encourage. It's interesting seeing all the experimenting being done with AI "personalities".
 
iPhoneFan5349 said:
Lol I wonder what kind of job you do to think AI is a fad. I just made an app in 3 days with AI
Click to expand...
AI will replace me but it will take a few years. I have been waiting for the AI that we use to develop a new feature and it's almost there....still a little rough...but its almost ready to replace the people doing that job for us. In the next year that app will remove a category of job from my field forever. It will just be gone never to return. Thats happening 100%.

Maybe people who think AI is a fad are all retired.
 
370zulu said:
Every time I see this kind of nonsense from Microsoft and Google it makes me appreciate my Apple devices even more.
Click to expand...
You mean like Apple’s playground or Genmoji slop? 🤮😮‍💨 (this is all Apple has been able to do with AI)
1761319656944.png
1761319617890.png
1761319599728.png
1761319584907.png
1761319569012.png


IMG_0536.png
 
Last edited:
If they bring this Mico crap to the iPad version of Copilot, I’m deleting it. I use the app as a search engine and don’t need any clanker crap infecting it even more.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back