Microsoft’s Copilot Portraits feature, currently in experimental rollout in the U.S. through Copilot Labs, enables users to have conversations with lifelike avatars that mimic realistic facial expressions and emotional cues. This capability is designed for users who benefit from visual interaction and more engaging conversational practice, such as students, professionals, or anyone interested in more natural AI dialogue. The Portraits function was previously tied to an experiment called Carrier Coach, aimed at supporting users in preparing for job interviews. However, Microsoft now appears to be shifting towards a broader set of applications for Portraits, expanding beyond just interview coaching.
According to the latest developments, the Portraits feature is expected to cover several scenarios:
- Assisting with job interview preparation
- Supporting study sessions
- Providing a platform for practicing public speaking
- Offering a playful mode where users can converse with an older version of themselves
These additions would likely surface within the Copilot Labs environment and could become available to a wider user base if early feedback is positive.
While a specific timeline for the rollout of these expanded Portraits use cases has not been provided, the move signals Microsoft’s intention to position Copilot as more than a general-purpose chatbot. It fits into their ongoing strategy of making Copilot a personal productivity and learning assistant that leverages generative AI and human-like avatars to serve a variety of user needs, from education and career support to personal growth and entertainment.
The Portraits feature itself remains limited in some respects; the avatars are AI-generated and not real humans, and the quality of emotional expression and conversation may still be evolving as Microsoft gathers user feedback. These developments underscore Microsoft’s investment in creating more relatable AI agents and experimenting with new ways of human-AI interaction within their ecosystem.
