Microsoft Copilot is getting a face and it is going to age, says AI chief Mustafa Suleyman

India Today

26-07-2025

Microsoft's AI assistant Copilot is no longer just a voice in your browser, it's getting a face. The company has begun testing a new feature called Copilot Appearance, which gives its generative AI chatbot a touch of personality, complete with expressions and gestures.Think of it as Copilot's coming-out party: the usually faceless AI now smiles, nods and reacts as it chats with you. Microsoft says it wants to give users 'a new, visual way to chat with Copilot,' and it's starting with an experimental roll-out through Copilot Labs.advertisementThe experiment adds a surprising amount of life to conversations. Alongside real-time facial expressions, Copilot now uses non-verbal cues to respond when you speak to it. That includes simple nods, a grin when appropriate, and a touch of character when giving an answer.
And there's more, voice mode is getting a memory upgrade, meaning the chatbot won't just hear your voice but will also remember your ongoing conversation. If that sounds a bit like talking to an animated character in a video game, that's very much the idea.At the moment, this new look is exclusive to the web version of Copilot. There's no sign yet of the feature coming to Windows or mobile apps, so you'll need a browser to meet the new face of Microsoft AI.For those who can access it, switching on Copilot Appearance is simple. Enter voice mode by clicking on the microphone icon, go to Voice Settings, and flip the toggle labelled 'Copilot Appearance.' From there, Copilot will react to your voice commands with all the enthusiasm of a newly hired assistant.Mustafa Suleyman, who leads Microsoft's AI division, explained the thinking behind these changes on The Colin & Samir Show this week. 'Copilot will certainly have a kind of permanent identity, a presence, and it will have a room that it lives in, and it will age,' Suleyman said.The aim, he suggests, is to make Copilot feel like more than a chatbot – more like a digital companion. Suleyman first teased Copilot's expressive side at Microsoft's 50th Anniversary celebrations earlier this year. Now, those early experiments have grown into a public test for users in the US, UK and Canada.This isn't Microsoft's first attempt at giving software a human touch. Long before Copilot, there was Clippy, the animated paperclip who cheerfully offered to help (whether you wanted it or not). Clippy went down in tech history as one of the most annoying assistants of all time – though some now look back fondly on its awkward charm.advertisementWith Copilot Appearance, Microsoft appears to be learning from its past. This AI isn't here to interrupt; it's here to engage. And so far, there's been no sign that it will sprout googly eyes and bounce across your screen.For now, Microsoft hasn't announced a timeline for a wider release, but given the company's big bet on AI, it's safe to assume this is just the beginning of Copilot's makeover.- Ends