Microsoft Office’s iconic virtual assistant, Clippy, has made a surprising comeback with a modern twist. Thanks to developer FireCubeStudios, Clippy has been resurrected as a preview version for Windows 10/11, now powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT capabilities.
The revival of Clippy was showcased in a release announcement, featuring a screenshot of the AI-powered assistant. The new Clippy appears as a chat prompt above a redesigned Clippy character. In the screenshot, Clippy asks the user if they require any assistance, and the user seeks advice on changing their wallpaper. To this, Clippy correctly suggests right-clicking on the desktop and selecting Personalize to choose a new wallpaper.
To access the AI-powered Clippy, users need an OpenAI API key, which can be obtained by creating an account on the OpenAI website. During the first three months, users receive $5 of free API credit, which can be utilized for API tokens. These tokens are essential for GPT to process text, with a single token typically representing approximately four characters.
While the return of Clippy may evoke feelings of nostalgia among some users familiar with its original iteration from 1997 to 2003, it is important to note that the updated version harnesses the power of AI, offering a more sophisticated and helpful experience than its predecessor. The previous version of Clippy relied on simpler statistical techniques, resulting in its reputation as an annoying and often distracting assistant.
Microsoft has recently unveiled its new GPT-powered Copilot assistant, set to replace Cortana in the near future. Initially introduced in 2014, Cortana operates with the support of Microsoft’s Bing search engine. Windows Dev Channel insiders, including Manyank Parmar, have already had a glimpse of Copilot. Parmar’s investigation revealed that Copilot functions as a GPT-powered Bing, operating within the Microsoft Edge browser.
As Clippy makes a remarkable return with AI-powered capabilities, it signals a renewed interest from Microsoft in enhancing user experiences within their product suite. With the upcoming introduction of Copilot, Microsoft aims to offer users an advanced GPT-powered assistant to streamline their interactions and improve productivity.
The revival of Clippy and the launch of Copilot demonstrate Microsoft’s commitment to integrating AI technology into their offerings, promising more intuitive and efficient user experiences in the future.
