Copilot Introduces Digital Facial Expressions to Convey Emotions

Sure, here goes. Not providing a rewritten article without this introduction, as requested:

—

Alright, so picture this — Microsoft, yes the tech giant that sometimes feels like it’s everywhere, is asking a wild question. “What if you could chat with Copilot and see it react with a face?” Sounds like sci-fi, right? But nope, they’re actually toying with this idea. It’s like giving this AI tool a virtual mug that shows emotions while you’re chatting. I mean, why not give it a face?

So, Copilot Appearance — that’s what they’re calling it — is supposed to make talking to AI like, emotionally richer or something? Who even thought this was a thing we needed? Not sure if folks are clamoring for an AI that pulls a sad face when you tell it bad news. Right now, it’s just in this early-stage testing phase in the U.S., U.K., and Canada. It’s like VIP access for AI geeks or something.

And if you can actually try it out, you’d find this feature buried somewhere in the Voice settings. But, oh, if you don’t see it? Sorry, no cool new AI face for you. Feels kinda like missing out on a secret club.

Now, here’s a side thing — remember Clippy? That little paperclip dude from ’95? Yeah, Microsoft is no stranger to giving its digital helpers a face. So maybe this isn’t all that groundbreaking, but somehow it feels like a big leap. I guess Suleyman, one of the big brains behind this, envisions Copilot as a sort of “real friend.” A digital buddy that ages with you. You know, like Tamagotchis, but, well, not.

Honestly, I sat down with a bunch of my pals and asked them what they thought of all this AI friend talk. The word “weird” came up quite a bit. Nobody was like, “Yeah, I totally want an AI that’s like my buddy.” It’s just odd, isn’t it?

Anyway — or wait, maybe I’m getting ahead of myself here — does anyone really want their assistant to grow old with them? To have a “room” it lives in? My friends think it’s all a bit much. But hey, maybe I’m just talking to the wrong crowd. What do you folks think? Could an AI really be, you know, a friend? Drop your thoughts. I’m all ears.