Microsoft Copilot tests portraits using VASA-1 AI
Microsoft has introduced an experimental “Portraits” feature for its Copilot AI assistant in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. Located in Copilot Labs, the function provides animated faces for real-time voice chats, developed in response to user feedback requesting a more personal interaction.
The Portraits feature offers a selection of 40 stylized human avatars designed to display natural facial expressions, head movements, and lip-syncing during voice conversations. Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman stated on X that the capability was created because some users said “they’d feel more comfortable talking to a face when using voice.” Users can select a portrait and pair it with a voice, which aims to make verbal conversations feel more natural compared to text-based interactions.
This initiative is Microsoft’s latest attempt to develop Copilot into a more approachable character. A previous feature, “Copilot Appearances,” launched in July and used an animated cartoon blob for its visual persona. The notable difference with Portraits is its reliance on human-like appearances, marking a clear shift in the design strategy for the AI assistant.
The experiment is built on VASA-1, an advanced AI technology from Microsoft Research. According to a company announcement on the Copilot Discord server, “This experiment leverages VASA-1… to create real-time, visual AI conversations.” The technology generates the animated effects from a single static image, which removes the need for complex 3D modeling to produce the natural facial expressions, head movements, and lip-syncing.
Microsoft’s cautious rollout of Portraits follows rival AI provider X’s introduction of 3D avatars for its Grok chatbot, which includes an anime-inspired AI girlfriend companion with an NSFW mode. The deliberate pace is also informed by safety concerns regarding harmful user interactions with other chatbots, such as those from Character.AI, which have faced investigations.
To address safety, the company emphasized the avatars’ design. On its blog, Microsoft said, “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.” Access is currently restricted to a “limited set of users” aged 18 or older. Microsoft has also implemented daily and session-based time limits and provides “clear indicators that you are interacting with AI technology.”
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