Microsoft is experimenting with a new feature that gives its AI assistant Copilot an animated human face.
The “Portraits” option, now available in Copilot Labs for users in the US, UK, and Canada, offers 40 stylized avatars that respond with natural facial expressions during real-time voice conversations.
Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman announced the update, noting it was developed after feedback from users who said they’d feel “more comfortable talking to a face” when using voice. Each portrait can be paired with a voice, aiming to make spoken interactions feel more natural than text-based chats.
Unlike Microsoft’s earlier “Copilot Appearances,” which used cartoon-like blobs, Portraits are human-inspired. The system is powered by VASA-1, a Microsoft Research technology that generates lip-sync, expressions, and head movements from a single image without complex 3D modeling.
Availability is limited to users aged 18 and older, with session limits and safety safeguards in place. Microsoft emphasized the avatars are intentionally stylized, not photorealistic, to avoid confusion while still making Copilot more approachable.
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