Microsoft is testing an experimental feature called “Portraits” that gives its Copilot AI assistant an animated face for real-time voice conversations, available in Copilot Labs for select users in the US, UK, and Canada.
The feature, which offers a choice of 40 stylized human avatars designed to display natural expressions during interactions, was developed after some Copilot users said “they’d feel more comfortable talking to a face when using voice,” according to Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman. Users can select a portrait and combine it with a voice, with the goal of making verbal chats with the AI feel more natural than text-based communication.
This is an evolution of Microsoft’s previous attempts to create a more engaging character for its AI. In July, the company announced “Copilot Appearances,” which presented the AI as an animated cartoon blob. The new Portraits feature moves toward human-like appearances instead.
The technology powering the avatars is VASA-1, an AI model from Microsoft Research. Microsoft stated on its Copilot Discord server that the innovation “allows us to generate natural facial expressions, head movements lip-sync from just a single image — no complex 3D modeling required.”
The introduction of Portraits follows competitor X, which recently added 3D avatars for its Grok chatbot, including one described as an anime-inspired AI girlfriend with an NSFW mode. Microsoft is implementing a more cautious rollout for its feature, likely due to safety concerns around harmful interactions with other chatbots, such as those from Character.AI that are under investigation.
To manage safety, Microsoft is limiting access to a small group of users aged 18 or older. The feature includes daily and session-based time limits and provides “clear indicators that you are interacting with AI technology.” The company emphasized that the avatars are designed to be distinct from real people. “Each portrait is intentionally stylized and not photorealistic, offering you visual variety while offering the same trusted Copilot intelligence and safety features you rely on,” Microsoft stated on its blog.
