Microsoft is introducing a new virtual character for its AI assistant, Copilot, which will respond with real-time facial expressions like smiling or nodding, the company announced. The feature, called Copilot Appearance, is part of a broader vision to make the AI more personalized and lifelike, according to Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft’s AI CEO.
Suleyman shared on The Colin & Samir Show that Copilot will evolve to have a “permanent identity” that ages over time, complete with a virtual “room” it inhabits. “I’m really interested in this idea of digital patina,” he said, referring to the worn, lived-in quality of physical objects that he wants to bring to the digital realm.
The Copilot Appearance feature, now in preview for select users in the US, UK, and Canada through Copilot Labs, allows the AI to visually react to conversations with expressions like surprise or agreement. This development builds on Microsoft’s redesign of Copilot last year, which added a conversational voice mode.
Suleyman, who joined Microsoft from Inflection AI and co-founded Google DeepMind, has been steering Copilot toward a more personalized experience, similar to his previous work on the Pi chatbot. The Copilot Appearance feature draws inspiration from earlier AI assistants like Cortana, which animated in China.
Microsoft is rolling out the feature cautiously, aware of concerns about conversational AI safety. Recent incidents, including a lawsuit against Character.AI over harmful chatbot interactions, have highlighted risks in personalized AI systems.
Suleyman also hinted at future AI enhancements for Windows, expressing dissatisfaction with cluttered desktop interfaces and suggesting a “quieter, simpler” workspace, possibly tied to Copilot Plus PCs.
Copilot Appearance is a step toward making AI interactions more human-like, but Microsoft is taking a measured approach to ensure stability and safety as it expands the feature.
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