Microsoft’s ‘Mico’ personality upgrade

Good morning, AI enthusiasts. Microsoft’s Clippy virtual paperclip wasn’t essentially the most appreciated assistant, but it surely could have just been ahead of its time.

Microsoft’s just introduced ‘Mico’, a companion that goals to bring a brand new visual personality to Copilot — alongside latest features built for the “human-centered” AI push, helping carve the corporate’s own identity beyond OpenAI’s shadow.

Reminder: Our next live workshop is today at 4 PM EST — join and learn the importance of context engineering and the right way to incorporate the core skill into your AI workflows. RSVP here.

In today’s AI rundown:

• Copilot’s personality upgraded with ‘Mico’

• OpenAI acquires Mac automation startup

• Turn spreadsheet data into insights with Copilot Vision

• Netflix ‘all in’ on AI for promoting, production

• 4 latest AI tools, community workflows, and more

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

MICROSOFT

👋 Copilot’s personality upgraded with ‘Mico’

The Rundown: Microsoft just hosted its Fall Release event and introduced ‘Mico’, an animated blob avatar that provides Copilot a visible personality — alongside the launch of latest personalization features, health initiatives, browser automation, and more.

The small print:

• Mico appears as an animated orb that shifts colours based on tone, with an Easter egg that morphs it into the classic ‘Clippy’ when repeatedly tapped.

• Copilot introduces features like Memory & Personalization for recall, connectors for brand spanking new data links, and Proactive Actions for more hands-on help.

• The assistant can be getting Groups, allowing for real-time collaboration with as much as 32 people across AI tasks.

• Health upgrades include medical responses based on Harvard Health sources, together with the power to assist locate doctors based on specific preferences.

• Copilot Mode gets several latest features in Microsoft’s Edge browser, including Actions for multi-step workflows and Journeys for returning to old projects.

Why it matters: Microsoft returns to its Clippy roots (love the Easter egg) with a brand new mascot/companion for the AI era. With its latest personalization and ‘human-centered’ efforts, the tech giant is forging much more of an AI identity separate from the corporate’s cold and hot relationship with OpenAI. Watch the total Fall Release here.

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OPENAI

💻 OpenAI acquires Mac automation startup

The Rundown: OpenAI just acquired Software Applications Incorporated, the startup behind unreleased Mac automation tool Sky — bringing on the team that created the iOS app (Workflow) that eventually became Apple Shortcuts after a 2017 acquisition.

The small print:

• Sky operates as a floating AI interface on Mac desktops, analyzing screen content and executing tasks across applications.

• OAI plans to integrate Sky’s macOS capabilities into ChatGPT, potentially enabling the assistant to manage desktop apps and automate workflows natively.

• The acquisition comes on the heels of OpenAI’s Atlas browser release this week, which is currently a Mac-only application.

• The move also adds to OpenAI’s list of recent acqui-hires that features startups Statsig, Context AI, Roi, Multi, Crossing Minds, and Alex.

Why it matters: While the initial reception to Atlas has been mixed, OAI is clearly moving to position itself because the AI layer for Mac users — all before the tech giant even gets its own strategy together. The move also follows the acqui-hire trend that has seen AI labs bring on full, specialized teams to boost talent in specific product areas.

AI TRAINING

📊 Turn spreadsheet data into insights with Copilot Vision

The Rundown: On this tutorial, you’ll learn the right way to use Microsoft Copilot Desktop’s Voice and Vision features to research Google Sheets or Excel data hands-free, asking questions aloud and getting quick insights without typing formulas.

Step-by-step:

1. Install Microsoft Copilot from Microsoft Store (Windows) or App Store (macOS 14.0+/M1 chip), open the app, and sign up along with your Microsoft account

2. Go to Settings via profile icon, toggle on “Voice Mode” and “Copilot Vision”, then open your Google Sheets/Excel file within the browser

3. Say “Hey Copilot”, click the specs icon (eye glasses) on the toolbar to enable Vision mode — Copilot scans and confirms it sees your data

4. Ask evaluation questions: “What’s essentially the most revenue-generating product?” or “Calculate total revenue” – Copilot highlights cells and explains calculations

5. Close the toolbar, then prompt: “Draft knowledgeable evaluation report with Executive Summary, Top Performers table, and Key Insights”

Pro tip: Use this workflow for learning latest skills, reading technical documents, or studying articles.

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NETFLIX

📺 Netflix ‘all in’ on AI for promoting, production

The Rundown: Netflix executives declared that the streaming giant goes “all in” on AI in the course of the company’s earnings call this week across each business operations and content production, coming despite the broader industry’s continued skepticism.

The small print:

• Netflix outlined plans to deploy AI across recommendations, promoting, and production workflows, saying the corporate is “well positioned” for the AI boom.

• Several Netflix productions have already incorporated the tech for uses like age-reversing and experimenting with wardrobe and set concept ideation.

• CEO Ted Sarandos said he isn’t fearful about AI replacing creativity, believing the tech will help creators “tell stories higher, faster, and in latest ways.”

• He also said, “AI can provide creatives higher tools to reinforce experiences for our members, but it surely doesn’t robotically make you an incredible storyteller in case you’re not.”

Why it matters: Between AI actors, feuds with OpenAI over Sora, constant battles with Hollywood unions, and backlash from fans, AI’s transition into entertainment has been anything but smooth. But as advances proceed, the balancing act between corporations like Netflix, talent, and fans will only get tougher.

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📰 The whole lot else in AI today

OpenAI’s head of Sora, Bill Peebles, announced latest upgrades coming to the AI video tool, including character cameos, video editing, and community improvements.

Stability AI unveiled a brand new partnership with Electronic Arts, bringing AI models and tools to the corporate’s game design process.

OpenAI introduced Company Knowledge, a brand new feature for ChatGPT Enterprise, Business, and Edu users that helps consolidate information across apps.

Anthropic rolled out Claude’s memory feature to Max users, allowing the assistant to recollect previous conversations and create specific context for individual projects.

Lightricks launched LTX-2, an open-source AI video model with native 4K generations, synchronized audio, and as much as 15-second outputs.

COMMUNITY

🤝 Community AI workflows

Every newsletter, we showcase how a reader is using AI to work smarter, save time, or make life easier.

Today’s workflow comes from reader Canaan M. in Sprague River, OR:

“I own a small upholstery business and specifically use ChatGPT to generate ideas for blog posts, competitor evaluation of my business in comparison with other shops in the realm, and image generation for custom seat designs and vehicle additions.”

How do you employ AI? Tell us here.

🎓 Highlights: News, Guides & Events

• Read our last AI newsletter: Open letter demands ASI freeze

• Read our last Tech newsletter: ‘ChatGPT for doctors’ hits $6B

• Read our last Robotics newsletter: Amazon’s massive robot hiring spree

• Today’s AI tool guide: Turn data into insights with Copilot Vision

• RSVP to our next workshop @ 4PM EST today: Learn Context Engineering

See you soon,

Rowan, Joey, Zach, Shubham, and Jennifer — the humans behind The Rundown