Microsoft’s latest AI experiment wants you to talk with digital portraits via Copilot

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Microsoft is introducing a new Copilot Labs feature called “Portraits” that allows users to have conversations with an animated portrait. According to Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, who announced the feature on X (formerly Twitter), users have indicated they prefer interacting with a visual face when using voice commands.

It’s not yet clear what makes this new feature different from the Copilot Appearance feature announced previously. Both allow users to interact with a customizable, animated avatar during chats.

Copilot Portraits is a streamlined version of Copilot Appearance. Instead of creating a fanciful avatar, it generates a simple 2D portrait. Both features are currently available through Copilot Labs, Microsoft’s testing ground for new and experimental AI tools.

According to Suleyman, this is an early version designed to help them understand how people interact with AI. Microsoft seems to be investigating what makes users most comfortable when communicating with an app. They’re particularly looking at whether giving the app a personality – through a 3D avatar or 2D image – improves the experience, and are exploring this with Copilot.

Many of the experimental features in Copilot Labs require a Copilot Pro subscription. This means you’ll need to pay Microsoft $20 per month to use things like Copilot Portrait. Copilot Labs also includes features like the ability to easily convert 2D images into 3D objects, and Copilot Vision, which lets Copilot ‘see’ what’s on your screen.

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2025-09-29 23:10