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Microsoft Adds 'Mico' Virtual Assistant to Copilot in Major Fall Update
- By John K. Waters
- October 23, 2025
In a significant feature update, Microsoft on Thursday said it is reshaping its Copilot AI platform with features that deepen user personalization and enable real-time group collaboration, among other perks.
The overhaul is meant to position Copilot as a unified digital assistant across Microsoft’s ecosystem, from Windows and Office to Edge and other services. Key additions include persistent memory that lets Copilot recall user-specific data across sessions, support for multi-user collaboration, and a customizable, virtual assistant named Mico. The features in the Copilot Fall Release are now live in the United States and will be rolled out in the United Kingdom, Canada and additional markets in the coming weeks. Availability may vary based on platform and device.
The goal, according to Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman in a blog, is to deliver AI "that is in service of people" by making interactions more contextual and human-like. The update includes remembering user-specific information across user sessions, support for voice-based interaction, and integration with Google services (Gmail and Drive), Outlook, and OneDrive.
New Features Emphasize Collaboration and Context
Among the most notable additions is Groups, a feature that allows up to 32 users to collaborate in real time within a shared AI session. Users can brainstorm, co-author documents, assign tasks, and receive AI-generated summaries and suggestions.
Microsoft also introduced Memory & Personalization, which enables Copilot to store and recall relevant personal information, such as reminders or ongoing tasks. Users retain the ability to review, edit, or delete stored data at any time.
The optional visual assistant, Mico, was designed to respond to user input and supports conversational interactions through expressive animations and customizable appearance settings.
AI Integration Across Services
The updated Copilot will be available across Microsoft's ecosystem. In Windows 11, users can launch Copilot with a wake word ("Hey Copilot") and resume previous tasks via a new home interface. In Edge, Copilot can summarize open tabs, fill out forms, compare information, and complete tasks such as hotel bookings.
The company is also rolling out Proactive Actions, a preview feature that can suggest next steps based on recent activity or research.
In addition, Copilot Search merges AI-generated answers with traditional search results, while Pages enables users to upload and work across multiple files simultaneously.
Use Cases in Health and Education
Microsoft highlighted two sectors—healthcare and education—as key targets for AI adoption.
In health, Copilot can now deliver responses grounded in reputable sources, such as Harvard Health, and assist users in locating healthcare providers by filtering based on criteria such as specialty and location.
In education, Learn Live introduces a Socratic teaching method that uses voice, visual aids, and interactive tools to guide users through concepts rather than providing direct answers.
Model Development and Deployment
The update is underpinned by Microsoft's ongoing development of in-house foundation models. Suleyman referenced the release of MAI-Voice-1, MAI-1-Preview, and MAI-Vision-1, which support voice, language, and multimodal inputs, respectively. These models are currently in early stages of integration with Copilot and are intended to support more immersive user experiences.
About the Author
John K. Waters is the editor in chief of a number of Converge360.com sites, with a focus on high-end development, AI and future tech. He's been writing about cutting-edge technologies and culture of Silicon Valley for more than two decades, and he's written more than a dozen books. He also co-scripted the documentary film Silicon Valley: A 100 Year Renaissance, which aired on PBS. He can be reached at [email protected].