Microsoft wants to make AI more “human-centred”. Its solution? To create a new mascot for Copilot named Mico, a floating blobby little thing with a smiling face. I’m not sure it’s going to move the needle on AI sentiment anytime soon.
Microsoft announced the anthropomorphic blob as part of its Copilot Fall Release, alongside various updates, including the ability to use the AI platform with groups of people, and a deeper focus on responding to health queries.
But naturally, everyone’s talking about Mico, the Clippy of Microsoft’s Copilot era. Currently available in the US, the UK, and Canada, Mico pops up when using Copilot’s voice mode.
The nebulous mascot is part of Microsoft’s response to scepticism around AI. “There’s a lot of noise around AI,” says the blog attributed to Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI. “Headlines, hype, fear.”
Suleyman continues by saying the company is “betting on optimism in a time of cynicism”. So, while OpenAI is opening the door to ChatGPT-generated erotic content, Microsoft appears to be moving in a much safer-for-work direction.
But is a chatbot with a cute face the answer? Scepticism around generative AI technology is backed by plenty of horrific real-world situations. Two parents in the US allege that ChatGPT led to the death of their son, while similar fears have been raised here in Australia.
There are lots of different chatbots and generative AI technologies, each with its own datasets and training models. To conflate the issues of one platform with another would be overly simplistic. However, to brush aside valid concerns about generative AI — whether it be related to health, jobs, or societal issues — as “noise” is naive.
AI companies say they’re improving guardrails to ensure people’s safety when using their technology. But until they prove they’re worth trusting, a cutesy mascot ain’t gonna cut it.
