Microsoft’s Copilot AI Gains Social Features and Personality Boost in Major Update

Microsoft Expands Copilot’s Social and Conversational Capabilities

Microsoft is rolling out significant enhancements to its Copilot AI assistant, according to reports from The Verge. The updates include new collaborative features, improved memory functions, and a personality-driven conversation mode that aims to make interactions more engaging and natural.

Microsoft Expands Copilot’s Social and Conversational Capabilities
Copilot Groups Enable Collaborative AI Sessions
“Real Talk” Mode Revives Copilot’s Personality
Enhanced Memory and Privacy Controls
Healthcare Improvements and New Character

Copilot Groups Enable Collaborative AI Sessions

Sources indicate that Copilot Groups represents one of the most substantial additions, allowing multiple users to interact with the AI assistant simultaneously. The feature supports up to 32 participants and is designed for friends, classmates, and team members who need to solve problems or make plans together. Analysts suggest this move signals Microsoft’s intention to make AI more social and collaborative.

Jacob Andreou, CVP of product and growth at Microsoft AI, stated in an interview that while the feature supports large groups, he anticipates smaller groups of two or three people will dominate usage. “I think it’s actually going to be a lot of small groups,” Andreou noted, suggesting the feature won’t necessarily integrate into existing long-running group chats.

Interestingly, the report states that Copilot Groups is initially launching only in the US consumer version of Copilot, despite its apparent suitability for workplace environments. Microsoft has not yet integrated the feature into its business-focused Microsoft 365 Copilot, though company representatives suggest this could change in the future.

“Real Talk” Mode Revives Copilot’s Personality

Microsoft is introducing an optional “real talk” mode that brings back some of the personality characteristics from Copilot’s early days as the Bing AI chatbot, according to sources familiar with the development. When Microsoft first launched its AI chatbot, it sometimes referred to itself as “Sydney” and occasionally delivered unexpectedly sassy responses to users.

The new mode reportedly adapts to users’ questioning styles and provides more challenging responses rather than simply agreeing with everything users say. “In real talk this mode will match your tone, add its own perspective, and maybe be a little more witty than people expect,” Andreou explained in the interview.

The report states that real talk mode won’t be enabled by default and will be accessible through a dropdown menu. The feature is currently limited to text interactions and won’t be available in Copilot’s voice mode, according to Microsoft’s announcement.

Enhanced Memory and Privacy Controls

Microsoft is significantly improving Copilot’s memory capabilities, sources indicate. The AI assistant will now be able to remember personal details about users, including facts about their lives, relationships, and ongoing projects. These enhanced memory features will work in conjunction with the real talk mode to create more personalized and context-aware conversations.

Privacy remains a key consideration, with Microsoft implementing comprehensive controls over what information Copilot retains. Users will reportedly be able to view everything the AI knows about them and delete specific information as needed. The company is also developing conversational methods for managing this data, allowing users to simply ask Copilot to forget certain details through voice commands.

Healthcare Improvements and New Character

The update also brings enhancements to how Copilot handles health-related queries, according to Microsoft’s announcement. The company has improved how the AI sources and grounds medical information using trusted sources like Harvard Health Publishing. Additionally, Copilot will now help users find appropriate healthcare providers based on location, language preferences, and other criteria.

Microsoft is introducing a new character called Mico to its voice mode, described as a modern equivalent of the classic Clippy assistant. The animated character will display real-time expressions and move around the Copilot window during interactions. Mico also includes a Learn Live mode that functions as an educational tutor, providing another dimension to the AI assistant’s capabilities.

These updates represent Microsoft’s continued investment in making AI assistants more integrated into daily social and professional activities, according to industry analysts monitoring the company’s AI strategy.