The beloved—and often infamous—Microsoft paperclip assistant, Clippy, has made a surprise return nearly two decades after being retired. Fans spotted the virtual helper as an Easter egg in Microsoft’s latest AI announcement for Mico, a new AI companion designed to make Microsoft Copilot more personal and adaptable.
Mico, a small, smiley-faced blob, may not resemble Clippy at first glance. However, early users discovered that tapping on Mico multiple times triggers a transformation, revealing the classic paperclip. “Clippy is back as an Easter egg in Copilot’s new Mico character. If you tap on Mico multiple times, Clippy appears,” said Tom Warren, Senior Editor at The Verge.
Clippy originally debuted in 1997 as a Microsoft Office virtual assistant, offering on-screen tips and guidance. Despite its helpful intentions, users quickly grew frustrated, and Microsoft retired the assistant in 2007. Yet, Clippy’s legacy endured in memes, pop culture references, and fan nostalgia.
Since then, Microsoft has experimented with a range of digital assistants, including Cortana and Tay—the latter shut down in 2016 after generating controversial content. Mico aims to strike a more engaging and personal tone, with animations, expressions, and adaptive responses to user interactions.
While Mico has drawn some attention, the spotlight on social media has largely shifted to Clippy. Fans expressed delight at the paperclip’s unexpected comeback, with one joking, “It will be a cold day in hell when Clippy is replaced.” Others celebrated the nostalgic return, noting, “Gone but not forgotten,” and comparing the reveal to a time-travel Easter egg.
Clippy has made a few cameo returns over the years, including in Microsoft Teams sticker packs in 2019, the company’s official GitHub page for Office developers, and as a replacement for Microsoft’s paperclip emoji in 2021. Now, almost 20 years later, the iconic assistant is once again making its mark—albeit in a hidden, playful way.
