Skip to main content TechRadar the technology experts Search TechRadar View Profile België (Nederlands) Deutschland North America US (English) Australasia New Zealand Tech Radar Pro Tech Radar Gaming Back to school Nintendo Switch 2 NYT Wordle today Best laptop Best web hosting Recommended reading AI Platforms & Assistants Microsoft’s Copilot Vision can now see your entire desktop – but it probably won't judge you for the clutter Microsoft could offer a guided tour of the Copilot app to help Windows 11 newbies, but I’m still waiting for the big changes to the AI assistant Microsoft Edge is now getting more AI, and I’d be surprised if an even bigger push for more Copilot isn’t just around the corner Microsoft has a big new AI settings upgrade for Windows 11 on Copilot+ PCs – plus 3 other nifty tricks Windows 11 gets more AI upgrades we didn’t ask for – as Copilot pops up on the desktop and Microsoft Store AI Platforms & Assistants Microsoft Notepad gets an AI makeover Microsoft finally plays its trump AI card, Recall, in Windows 11 – but for me, it’s completely overshadowed by another new ability for Copilot+ PCs AI Platforms & Assistants What if Clippy and AI Cloud intelligence had a baby? It would probably look like Microsoft's new Copilot Appearance feature Eric Hal Schwartz 25 July 2025 Microsoft is giving Copilot a smile, but that doesn't mean it will laugh at your jokes When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Microsoft) Microsoft has begun testing Copilot Appearance to give the AI assistant a more distinct personality The feature imbues Copilot with real-time expressions and gestures Copilot Appearance is part of a broader push to give Copilot a persistent identity Microsoft has decided to put a face on its Copilot AI assistant with a new feature called Copilot Appearance. Rolling out to a limited set of users in the U.S., U.K., and Canada as part of Microsoft’s Copilot Labs, Appearance is a sort of animated cloud and has a smile instead of just a disembodied voice. Microsoft is hoping Appearance will help make Copilot more enduring as a tool for regular engagement, not just occasional questioning. It's an idea that fits with how the company's consumer AI head, Mustafa Suleyman, envisions the future of Copilot. As he explained in a recent interview, Suleyman sees a more human-like Copilot, one that carries what he calls “digital patina” as it ages, accruing history and personality based on time spent with a user. The Appearance feature is an aspect of that idea. It gives Copilot facial expressions and subtle animations to respond in real time as you talk or type. So you might see a smile when it provides information, or a nod of encouragement when you provide follow-up details. Perhaps even a furrowed brow if you ask for something difficult. You may like Microsoft’s Copilot Vision can now see your entire desktop – but it probably won't judge you for the clutter Microsoft could offer a guided tour of the Copilot app to help Windows 11 newbies, but I’m still waiting for the big changes to the AI assistant Microsoft Edge is now getting more AI, and I’d be surprised if an even bigger push for more Copilot isn’t just around the corner The obvious comparison for any Microsoft AI personality attempt is Clippy, but this is, theoretically at least, a far cry from the old paperclip with eyeballs. Unlike Clippy, this assistant doesn’t pop in uninvited or ask if you’re writing a letter. It will only talk to you when you start a conversation, and it's supposed to exist quietly in the background. But it will remember what you're doing, and that memory lasts. Appearance and personality It's the continuity of the memory that makes it possible for Copilot to become as personal as Suleyman wants. Combined with other recent Copilot upgrades like voice mode and vision capabilities, Suleyman hopes Copilot will understand both what you want in the moment and who you are overall. Of course, for now, the visual character isn’t doing anything wild. It won’t animate a full scene or wave its arms around like a Pixar sidekick. It’s more like a friendly desk plant that also edits your reports. Microsoft is moving slowly here for a reason. Other platforms that heavily leaned into character-based chatbots have encountered issues with users becoming overly attached to an AI companion. The risk, of course, is that some people will start thinking of it that way. The goal is to earn a user's trust, but not so much that people forget this is still a tool. But if Microsoft keeps going down this path, it will need to draw some clear lines. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Appearance is a layer of presence and polish. It’s also a preview of an AI that shows how it is reacting to us with facial expressions and body language, something anyone can understand. But, I still don't want to see Copilot raise its eyebrows and roll its eyes sarcastically at requests it thinks are dumb. You might also like I tried Microsoft Copilot's iOS app, and here are 3 reasons why you should too I think Microsoft is smart to follow OpenAI in making these premium features free Microsoft Paint brushes up on AI Eric Hal Schwartz Social Links Navigation Contributor Eric Hal Schwartz is a freelance writer for TechRadar with more than 15 years of experience covering the intersection of the world and technology. For the last five years, he served as head writer for Voicebot.ai and was on the leading edge of reporting on generative AI and large language models. He's since become an expert on the products of generative AI models, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, Google Gemini, and every other synthetic media tool. His experience runs the gamut of media, including print, digital, broadcast, and live events. Now, he's continuing to tell the stories people want and need to hear about the rapidly evolving AI space and its impact on their lives. Eric is based in New York City. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. Microsoft’s Copilot Vision can now see your entire desktop – but it probably won't judge you for the clutter Microsoft could offer a guided tour of the Copilot app to help Windows 11 newbies, but I’m still waiting for the big changes to the AI assistant Microsoft Edge is now getting more AI, and I’d be surprised if an even bigger push for more Copilot isn’t just around the corner Microsoft has a big new AI settings upgrade for Windows 11 on Copilot+ PCs – plus 3 other nifty tricks Windows 11 gets more AI upgrades we didn’t ask for – as Copilot pops up on the desktop and Microsoft Store Microsoft Notepad gets an AI makeover Latest in AI Platforms & Assistants Switched to ChatGPT for search? 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Apple TV+ just dropped a teaser for Pluribus, the show from the creator of Breaking Bad, and we're left with many questions TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. Contact Future's experts Terms and conditions Privacy policy Cookies policy Advertise with us Web notifications Accessibility Statement Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Please login or signup to comment Please wait...