Microsoft seems to be working on character-based features for its pilot AI, which has been spotted in early development. The goal appears to be positioning their AI as distinct characters to make it more engaging. So far, two characters have been identified in the code: Mika, a little fox, and Hikari, a water drop-like character that some users associate with Clippy.

Alongside these characters, there are four different background images. When enabled, the upper half of the chat screen will display a themed background, such as a forest or other scenes. As the chat begins, the character will emerge from the background to the front, waving or interacting with the user. Currently, these characters do not produce sound, but it seems likely that future updates will include speaking capabilities. Users will also be able to click on the characters, triggering specific motions as a response.

The overall user interface remains largely unchanged, with conversations displayed in the lower portion of the screen. The addition of characters and backgrounds introduces a visual layer of separation without disrupting the core chat functionality. There is also evidence in the codebase suggesting that a dedicated setting will allow users to switch between characters, adding personalization options.

Microsoft’s approach is intriguing, as it shifts focus toward visually appealing, character-driven AI interactions. This could be a way to differentiate itself from its OpenAI partnership, focusing on accessibility and user engagement over purely professional functionalities.

Additionally, Microsoft appears to be developing a shopping feature for Copilot. This feature would enable Copilot to assist users with purchases and track deliveries. Similar to Perplexity’s pro-shopping features, this functionality will likely provide detailed product cards and might initially be restricted to pro subscribers in the U.S. region.

These developments suggest Microsoft is exploring creative ways to enhance its Copilot AI, focusing on user-friendly and visually engaging features. It will be interesting to see how these updates unfold in the coming months.