Editing Office Assistant

{{Short description|Assistive tool for Microsoft Office}}
[[File:Clippy-letter.PNG|thumb|''Clippit'', the default Office Assistant, as seen in Microsoft Office 2000 through 2003]]

The '''Office Assistant''' is a discontinued [[intelligent user interface]] for [[Microsoft Office]] that assisted users by way of an interactive [[animated character]] which [[user interface|interfaced]] with the Office help content. It was included in [[Microsoft Office]], in [[Microsoft Publisher]], [[Microsoft Project]], and [[Microsoft FrontPage]]. It had a wide selection of characters to choose from, with the most well-known being a  [[paperclip]] called '''Clippit'''<ref name="dickinson">{{cite web |title=Microsoft's Office Assistant |url=http://lis.dickinson.edu/Technology/Training/Tutorials/MsOffice/assistant.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070212204645/http://lis.dickinson.edu/Technology/Training/Tutorials/MsOffice/assistant.htm |archive-date=2007-02-12 |access-date=2007-05-08 |publisher=Dickinson College |quote=Clippit, the default Office Assistant}}</ref><ref name="clippitshomepage">{{cite web |title=Microsoft Clippy |url=http://www.microsoft.com/office/clippy/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010811130237/http://www.microsoft.com/office/clippy/ |archive-date=2001-08-11 |website=[[Microsoft]]}}</ref> (commonly referred to by the public as '''Clippy'''). The Office Assistant and particularly Clippit have been the subject of numerous criticisms and parodies.

== Description ==
The Office Assistant was an [[intelligent user interface]] for [[Microsoft Office]]. It assisted users by way of an interactive [[animated character]] that [[user interface|interfaced]] with the Office help content. It was included in [[Microsoft Office|Microsoft Office for Windows]] (versions 97 to 2003), in [[Microsoft Publisher]] and [[Microsoft Project]] (versions 98 to 2003), [[Microsoft FrontPage]] (versions 2002 and 2003), and [[Microsoft Office|Microsoft Office for Mac]] (versions 98 to 2004). The Office Assistant used technology initially from [[Microsoft Bob]] and later [[Microsoft Agent]], offering advice based on [[Bayesian probability|Bayesian]] algorithms.

The default assistant in the English version was named Clippit, after a paperclip.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |last=Freeman |first=Jan |date=2007-02-25 |title=Finding the grammar checker's frailties |url=http://archive.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/02/25/you_got_grammar/ |access-date=2007-02-25 |work=The Boston Globe}}</ref><ref name="designer">{{cite web |title=Clippy |url=http://oddisgood.com/pages/cd-clippy.html |access-date=2016-02-10 |website=Oddisgood.com |archive-date=2013-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109214703/http://oddisgood.com/pages/cd-clippy.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The character was designed by Kevan J. Atteberry.<ref name="designer3">{{cite web |title=Clippy |url=http://oddisgood.com/pages/cd-clippy.html |access-date=2016-02-10 |website=Oddisgood.com |archive-date=2013-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109214703/http://oddisgood.com/pages/cd-clippy.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Cole |first=Samantha |date=April 26, 2017 |title=Clippy's Designer Wants to Know Who Got Clippy Pregnant |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/microsoft-clippy-creator-interview-kevin-atteberry/ |access-date=May 2, 2019 |work=Motherboard |language=en-us |archive-date=November 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101051607/https://www.vice.com/en/article/xyj55a/microsoft-clippy-creator-interview-kevin-atteberry |url-status=live }}</ref> Although the name Clippit was used in all versions of Microsoft Office that supported the Office Assistant feature, the assistant became commonly referred to by the public as '''Clippy''', a name which later occasionally bled into Microsoft marketing materials.<ref name="dickinson" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Cassidy |first=Benjamin |date=23 August 2022 |title=The Twisted Life of Clippy |url=https://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-city-life/2022/08/origin-story-of-clippy-the-microsoft-office-assistant |work=Seattle Met}}</ref><ref name="xenon" /><ref name="futurism">{{cite web |author=Maggie Harrison |date=June 29, 2023 |title=Madman Brings Clippy Back as an AI |url=https://futurism.com/the-byte/microsoft-clippy-back-ai |website=Futurism |quote=The former Microsoft Office mascot — technically named Clippit}}</ref> Clippit was by far the most notable (partly because in many cases the setup CD was required to install the other assistants), which also led to him being called simply the '''Microsoft Paperclip'''.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |date=2 June 2012 |title=The Microsoft Paperclip Is Back |url=https://www.newrisingmedia.com/blog/2012/6/2/the-microsoft-paperclip-is-back.html |access-date=2016-02-10 |website=Newrisingmedia.com |archive-date=2021-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185634/https://www.newrisingmedia.com/blog/2012/6/2/the-microsoft-paperclip-is-back.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Technology ===
The Office Assistant used technology initially from [[Microsoft Bob]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Watters |first1=Audrey |date=14 September 2016 |title=Clippy and the History of the Future of Educational Chatbots |url=http://hackeducation.com/2016/09/14/chatbot |access-date=2 June 2017 |website=Hacked Education |archive-date=16 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616041542/http://hackeducation.com/2016/09/14/chatbot |url-status=live }}</ref> and later [[Microsoft Agent]], offering advice based on [[Bayesian probability|Bayesian]] algorithms.<ref name="xenon">{{cite web |last1=Swartz |first1=Luke |title=Why People Hate the Paperclip: Labels, Appearance, Behavior and Social Responses to User Interface Agents |url=http://xenon.stanford.edu/~lswartz/paperclip/paperclip.pdf |access-date=2 June 2017 |quote=Popularly known as "Clippy the Paperclip" (the default character, referred to in Microsoft Office itself as "Clippit") |archive-date=12 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212191858/http://xenon.stanford.edu/~lswartz/paperclip/paperclip.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> From Microsoft Office 2000 onward, Microsoft Agent (.acs) replaced the Microsoft Bob-descended Actor (.act) format as the technology supporting the feature. Microsoft Agent-based characters have richer forms and colors, and are not enclosed within a boxed window. Furthermore, Microsoft Agent characters could use the [[Lernout & Hauspie]] TruVoice Text-to-Speech Engine to provide output speech capabilities, but it required SAPI 4.0. The Microsoft Speech Recognition Engine also allowed Microsoft Agent characters to accept speech input.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bell |first=Gordon Scott |title=Microsoft Agent Ring |url=http://msagentring.org/setup.aspx |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305173031/http://msagentring.org/setup.aspx |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |access-date=May 2, 2019 |website=msagentring.org}}</ref> This technology was also used for the [[File Explorer]]'s search companions in [[Windows XP]].

==History==
According to [[Alan Cooper (software designer)|Alan Cooper]], the "Father of [[Visual Basic (classic)|Visual Basic]]", the concept of Clippit was based on a "tragic misunderstanding" of research conducted at [[Stanford University]], showing that the same part of the [[brain]] in use while using a [[computer mouse|mouse]] or [[Computer keyboard|keyboard]] was also responsible for emotional reactions while interacting with other [[human|human being]]s and thus is the reason people yell at their [[computer monitor]]s.<ref name="AlanCooper">{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/g4tv.com-video4080 |title=g4tv.com-video4080: Why People Yell at Their Computer Monitors and Hate Microsoft's Clippy |last=G4TV. com |access-date=4 June 2016 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> [[Microsoft]] concluded that if humans reacted to computers the same way they react to other humans, it would be beneficial to include a human-like face in their software.<ref name="AlanCooper" /> As people already related to computers directly as they do with humans, the added human-like face emerged as an annoying interloper distracting the user from the primary conversation.<ref name="AlanCooper" />

First introduced in [[Microsoft Office 97]],<ref name="97rtm">{{cite web |url=https://news.microsoft.com/1996/11/19/microsoft-office-97-released-to-manufacturing/ |title=Microsoft Office 97 Released to Manufacturing |date=November 19, 1996 |website=Stories |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |access-date=November 22, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401070127/https://news.microsoft.com/1996/11/19/microsoft-office-97-released-to-manufacturing/ |archive-date=April 1, 2019}}</ref> the Office Assistant was code-named TFC during development, with the "C" standing for "clown."<ref name="autogenerated2005">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/techtalk/archive/2005/12/16/504872.aspx |title=PM at Microsoft |last=Sinofsky |first=Steven |author-link=Steven Sinofsky |date=December 16, 2005 |website=[[Microsoft Developer Network]] |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |access-date=May 2, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214194638/https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/techtalk/2005/12/16/pm-at-microsoft/|archive-date=February 14, 2019}}</ref> It appeared when the program determined the user could be assisted by using Office wizards, searching help, or advising users on using Office features more effectively. It also presented tips and keyboard shortcuts. For example, typing an address followed by "Dear" would cause the Assistant to appear with the message, "It looks like you're writing a [[letter (message)|letter]]. Would you like help?"

Microsoft turned off the feature by default in [[Microsoft Office XP|Office XP]],<ref name=":4">{{cite web |last=Luening |first=Erich |date=2009-10-27 |title=Microsoft tool "Clippy" gets pink slip |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/microsoft-tool-clippy-gets-pink-slip/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024125147/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-255671.html |archive-date=2012-10-24 |access-date=2010-09-05 |publisher=News.cnet.com}}</ref> and as a result they focused most of their marketing on that change.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft tool "Clippy" gets pink slip |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/microsoft-tool-clippy-gets-pink-slip/ |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=CNET |language=en |archive-date=2024-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203212418/https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/microsoft-tool-clippy-gets-pink-slip/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

They created the now-defunct website ''officeclippy.com'' and hosted three [[Adobe Flash|flash]] cartoons starring a newly unemployed Clippit (now officially being referred to as Clippy,) a song sung by Clippit, and a flash [[video game]] called Office XP (Xtract Paperclip) where the player would use office supplies to slay an army of Clippits.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |date=2001-08-06 |title=Clippy downloads |url=http://www.microsoft.com/office/clippy/downloads.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031010223455/http://www.microsoft.com/office/clippy/downloads.asp |archive-date=October 10, 2003 |access-date=2011-12-22 |publisher=Microsoft}}</ref> On May 31, 2001, during the Office XP launch event in New York City, a man in a Clippit mascot costume interrupts the introduction and gives a speech begging for his job back before being dragged off stage by a comically large magnet.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp1-fLQKmkk |title=Clippy at the Office XP Launch 5/31/2001 |date=2022-02-10 |last=Hardcore Software |access-date=2024-12-01 |via=YouTube |archive-date=2024-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805173915/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp1-fLQKmkk |url-status=live }}</ref> Notably, Clippit is voiced by [[Gilbert Gottfried]] during this ad campaign. Later that November, Microsoft published the video game Bicycle Card Games for Windows computers, featuring Clippit as a playable character, with Gilbert Gottfried reprising his role.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-08-01 |title=Bicycle Games: Card Games |url=http://www.microsoft.com/games/bicycle/card/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030801073002/http://www.microsoft.com/games/bicycle/card/ |archive-date=2003-08-01 |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=Bicycle Games: Card Games}}</ref>

On May 11, 2004, Microsoft released [[Microsoft Office 2003]], which was the last version of Microsoft office to feature the Office Assistant.

==Assistants==
When the Office Assistant feature was introduced in Office 97, the user could choose which character is displayed while they use the program. The list of characters that the user could choose from include:<!-- Listed in order of appearance -->
* Clippit (the [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] paperclip most are familiar with, the default option in most of the Microsoft Office editions that supported Office Assistant)
* The Dot (a shape-shifting [[smiley]]-faced red ball)
* The Genius (a caricature of [[Albert Einstein]], removed in Office XP but available as a downloadable add-on)
* Hoverbot (a [[robot]])
* {{Nihongo|2=カイル|3=Kairu}} (a [[dolphin]] available for East Asian editions, also downloadable for other regions)<ref>{{cite web |date=1998-06-07 |title=Office 97 Assistant: Kairu the Dolphin |url=http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=c0c179c4-7641-4cc8-945a-94a3dcebdb58&DisplayLang=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070416114834/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=C0C179C4-7641-4CC8-945A-94A3DCEBDB58&displaylang=en |archive-date=2007-04-16 |access-date=2007-05-08 |publisher=Microsoft}}</ref>
* Office Logo (a [[jigsaw puzzle]] composed of four pieces, which was the logo for Microsoft Office 9x. There was also an additional downloadable silent, immobile version of the character with a minor redesign)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2000-08-15 |title=Office 97 Assistant: Quiet Office Logo |url=http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/downloadDetails/tofflogo.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815194834/http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/downloadDetails/tofflogo.htm |archive-date=2000-08-15 |access-date=2024-11-30 }}</ref>
* Mother Nature (a [[globe]])
* Power Pup (a [[superhero]] [[dog]])
* Scribble (an [[origami]]-esque [[cat]])
* Will (a caricature of [[William Shakespeare]])

In Microsoft Office 2000 and beyond, the ''Hoverbot'', ''Scribble'', ''Power Pup'', and ''Will'' assistants were removed, and new Office Assistants were introduced in their place:<!-- Listed in order of appearance -->
* F1 (a robot who was previously downloadable for Office 97, included in Microsoft Office 2000 & beyond)
* Links (a cat who was previously downloadable for Office 97, included in Microsoft Office 2000 & beyond)
* Rocky (a dog included in Microsoft Office 2000 & beyond)
* Merlin (a [[Wizard (fantasy)|wizard]] inspired by the [[Merlin|character of the same name]], introduced in Office XP)

The Clippit, Office Logo, and Kairu assistants were also redesigned to have a more three dimensional appearance. The removed assistants later resurfaced as downloadable add-ons along with other additional assistants.<ref>{{cite web |title=Microsoft Agent download page for end-users |url=http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/results.aspx?pocId=&freetext=office%2097%20assistant&DisplayLang=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20100506025412/http%3A//www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/results.aspx?pocId%3D%26freetext%3Doffice%252097%2520assistant%26DisplayLang%3Den |archive-date=2010-05-06 |access-date=2007-05-08 |website=Microsoft Download Center |publisher=Microsoft}}</ref>

=== Exclusive Assistants ===
In [[Microsoft Office 98 Macintosh Edition|Microsoft Office 98]] and [[Microsoft Office 2001|2001]], [[MacOS]] exclusive editions of Microsoft Office, all of the built in Office 97 assistants were included (also retaining their Office 97 designs) along with an additional three assistants:<!-- Listed in order of appearance -->
* Bosgrove (a [[butler]] exclusive to MacOS)
* Earl the cat (a blue cat, also downloadable for Office 97)
* Max (a [[Macintosh Plus]] computer exclusive to MacOS)

The Office XP Multilingual Pack had two more assistants for Asian language users in non-Asian Office versions:<ref>{{cite web |date=2004-07-18 |script-title=ja:フミオ君のボヤキ 第14回 「ワード」のイルカ |url=http://www.kaiyou-k.jp/fumiovol14.htm |access-date=2011-12-22 |publisher=Kaiyou-k.jp}}</ref>
* {{Nihongo||冴子先生|Saeko Sensei}} (an animated teacher available for East Asian editions)
* The Monkey King ({{Zh|c=孫悟空}}) (based on the fictional character [[Monkey King|Sun Wukong]], available for East Asian editions)
In 1999, there was a partnership between Microsoft and the Japanese talk show {{Nihongo|2=さんまのまんま|3=Sanma no Manma}} hosted by comedian [[Sanma Akashiya]], where if a customer in Japan were to purchase a copy of Microsoft Office 2000 Upgrade Edition, they would be mailed a promotional CD that would install the show's mascot {{Nihongo|2=まんまちゃん|3=Manma-chan}}, an alien that resembles a dog as an additional Office Assistant.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1999-11-16 |title=Microsoft Office 2000 まんまちゃんオフィスアシスタントプレゼント |url=http://microsoft.com/japan/Office/Campaign/Thanks/kokuti.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991116123453/http://microsoft.com/japan/Office/Campaign/Thanks/kokuti.htm |archive-date=1999-11-16 |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=Microsoft}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chapman |first=Stephen |date=2021-09-01 |title=The Microsoft Office Assistant You've Never Seen (Until Now) |url=https://www.thurrott.com/office/255148/the-microsoft-office-assistant-youve-never-seen-until-now |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=Thurrott.com |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202054114/https://www.thurrott.com/office/255148/the-microsoft-office-assistant-youve-never-seen-until-now |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Criticism==
[[File:Kevan Atteberry at ROFLCon II.jpg|thumb|left|Clippit creator Kevan Atteberry discussing his much-maligned character at [[ROFLCon]] II]]

Despite the Office Assistant's intention of being helpful, it was widely reviled among users as intrusive and annoying,<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 10 worst products |url=http://www.cnet.com/4520-11136_1-6313439-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060626040617/http://www.cnet.com/4520-11136_1-6313439-1.html |archive-date=2006-06-26 |access-date=2011-12-22 |publisher=CNET.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=publicblast |date=February 7, 2007 |title=Microsoft Word 2007 Review |url=https://www.cnet.com/reviews/microsoft-word-2007-review/ |access-date=2011-12-22 |publisher=CNET |archive-date=2020-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331235230/https://www.cnet.com/reviews/microsoft-word-2007-review/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and was criticized even within Microsoft. Microsoft's internal codename TFC had a derogatory origin: [[Steven Sinofsky]]<ref name="autogenerated2005" /> states that "C" stood for "clown", while allowing his readers to guess what "TF" might stand for. ''[[Smithsonian (magazine)|Smithsonian Magazine]]'' called Clippit "one of the worst software design blunders in the annals of computing".<ref>Conniff, Richard. "What's Behind a Smile?" ''[[Smithsonian (magazine)|Smithsonian Magazine]]'', August 2007 pp. 51–52</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine included Clippit in a 2010 article listing the fifty worst inventions.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Chris Gentilviso |date=May 27, 2010 |title=The 50 Worst Inventions: Clippy |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1991915_1991909_1991755,00.html |access-date=October 25, 2013 |magazine=Time |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029231813/http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1991915_1991909_1991755,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Although helpful to brand-new users, and  introduced at a time when relatively few people had extensive experience with computers, the Office Assistant feature was criticized for interrupting users and not providing advice that was fully adapted to the situation.<ref name=":0" />

== Legacy ==
On January 30, 2007, [[Microsoft Office 2007]] released with the Office Assistant feature being fully removed, and it has remained that way in all subsequent releases of Microsoft Office. Later that same year, Microsoft hosted the [[Microsoft Ignite|TechEd]] 2007 conference, which featured a keynote opening that parodied [[Back to the Future (franchise)|Back to the Future]]. In the opening, then Microsoft president [[Bob Muglia]] and [[Christopher Lloyd]] (reprising his role as [[Emmett Brown|Doc Brown]] from the [[Back to the Future|movie]]) use the [[DeLorean time machine|DeLorean]] to travel across time, eventually arriving at an alternate future where unsuccessful Microsoft products become a reality. The alternate future is depicted as a white void with a threatening hologram of the [[Smiley|smiley face]] logo from Microsoft Bob alongside a sarcastic Clippit hologram.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxMrBuluEJ8&t=391s |title=TechEd 2007 Keynote opening (Back To The Future style) |date=2010-09-04 |last=whsfritz |access-date=2024-12-09 |via=YouTube}}</ref> Interestingly, Gilbert Gottfried does not reprise his role as Clippit this time.

In May of 2009, as way to promote [[Microsoft Office 2010]], Microsoft created a website<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-05-14 |title=Office 2010 The Movie |url=https://www.office2010themovie.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514143354/https://www.office2010themovie.com/ |archive-date=2009-05-14 |access-date=2024-12-09 }}</ref> that hosted a trailer for a fake movie titled "Office 2010 - The Movie." The trailer featured a photograph of Clippit along with his tombstone, referencing the removal of the Office Assistant feature.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGxq70GMMow |title=Office 2010 - The Movie |date=2010-01-05 |last=Catalyst Network Solutions |access-date=2024-12-09 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

On April 2, 2011, Microsoft Office Labs released [[Ribbon Hero#Ribbon Hero 2: Clippy's Second Chance|Ribbon Hero 2: Clippy's Second Chance]], a free [[puzzle video game]] used to teach users the basics of Microsoft Office 2007 and 2010. In the game, Clippit is searching for a part time job before discovering a time machine that takes him to different time periods. The player must complete multiple office related tasks to progress the story further.[[File:Clippy Hidden in office.png|thumb|right|Clippit, hidden]]
A small image of Clippit can be found in Microsoft Office 2013 and newer, which can be seen by going to Options and changing the theme (or Office Background) to "School Supplies". Clippit would then appear on the ribbon.

Clippit appeared as an Office Assistant in Office Online as part of an [[April Fools' Day]] 2014 joke.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jessica Catcher |date=2014-04-01 |title=Clippy Returns in Microsoft Office April Fools' Day Gag |url=https://mashable.com/archive/clippy-is-back |access-date=2016-02-10 |website=Mashable.com |archive-date=2021-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185721/https://mashable.com/archive/clippy-is-back |url-status=live }}</ref> Several days later, an [[easter egg (media)|easter egg]] was found in the then-preview version of [[Windows Phone 8.1]]. When asked if she likes Clippit, the personal assistant [[Microsoft Cortana|Cortana]] would answer "Definitely. He taught me how important it is to listen." or "What's not to like? That guy took a heck of a beating and he's still smiling."<ref>{{cite web |date=2014-04-15 |title=Found a Clippy Easter Egg in Cortana! - Windows Central Forums |url=https://forums.windowscentral.com/windows-10/275592-found-clippy-easter-egg-cortana.html |access-date=2016-02-10 |website=Forums.windowscentral.com |archive-date=2021-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183706/https://forums.windowscentral.com/windows-10/275592-found-clippy-easter-egg-cortana.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Her avatar occasionally turned into a two-dimensional [[Metro (design language)|Metro]]-style Clippit for several seconds. This easter egg is still available in the full release version of the Windows Phone operating system and Windows 10.<ref>{{cite web |last=Stephenson |first=Brad |date=November 1, 2017 |title=Amusing Clippy Easter egg found in Microsoft's Cortana |url=https://www.onmsft.com/news/amusing-clippy-easter-egg-found-in-microsofts-cortana |access-date=May 2, 2019 |website=onmsft.com |archive-date=November 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105093045/https://www.onmsft.com/news/amusing-clippy-easter-egg-found-in-microsofts-cortana |url-status=live }}</ref>

On March 19, 2019, Microsoft released a "Clippy!" sticker pack for Microsoft Teams on the Microsoft 365 Developer [[GitHub]] Page, but was later removed three days later.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=2019-03-22 |title=Microsoft resurrects Clippy and then brutally kills him off again |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/22/18276923/microsoft-clippy-microsoft-teams-stickers-removal |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=The Verge |language=en |archive-date=2024-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201101857/https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/22/18276923/microsoft-clippy-microsoft-teams-stickers-removal |url-status=live }}</ref> The sticker pack was later integrated into Teams itself on November 1st, 2021, and has been included ever since.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=2021-11-01 |title=Microsoft resurrects Clippy again after brutally killing him off in Microsoft Teams |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/1/22756973/microsoft-clippy-microsoft-teams-stickers-return |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref> He is also present in some of the backgrounds users can select.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Team |first=The Microsoft 365 Marketing |date=2021-07-08 |title=Get nostalgic with new Microsoft Teams backgrounds |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2021/07/08/get-nostalgic-with-new-microsoft-teams-backgrounds/ |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=Microsoft 365 Blog |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-12-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241206180202/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2021/07/08/get-nostalgic-with-new-microsoft-teams-backgrounds/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File: Windows_11_Clippy_paperclip_emoji.png|thumb|upright|The paperclip emoji (📎) on [[Windows 11]]]]
On July 2021, Microsoft used [[Twitter]] to show off a redesign of Clippit, and said that if it received 20,000 likes they would replace the paperclip [[emoji]] on [[Microsoft 365]] with the character.<ref name="Revival" /> The Tweet quickly surpassed 20,000 likes and they then announced they would replace it.<ref>{{cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=July 14, 2021 |title=Microsoft threatens to bring back Clippy |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/microsoft-threatens-to-bring-back-clippy/ |access-date=July 14, 2021 |website=PC Gamer |archive-date=July 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714205029/https://www.pcgamer.com/microsoft-threatens-to-bring-back-clippy/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=14 July 2021 |title=Microsoft threatens to resurrect Clippy as an Office emoji |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/14/22577468/microsoft-office-clippy-emoji-tweet-likes |access-date=6 October 2021 |archive-date=6 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006061556/https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/14/22577468/microsoft-office-clippy-emoji-tweet-likes |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2021, Microsoft officially updated their design of the paperclip emoji (📎) on [[Windows 11]] to be Clippit.<ref name="Emoji Win11">{{cite web |last=Broni |first=Keith |date=November 27, 2021 |title=Windows 11 November 2021 Emoji Changelog |url=https://blog.emojipedia.org/windows-11-november-2021-emoji-changelog/ |access-date=December 20, 2021 |website=[[Emojipedia]]}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
{{In popular culture|section|date=January 2019}}
Clippit is the subject of numerous humorous parodies and references, including [[internet memes]].<ref name=":0" /> It has been lampooned in multiple television series, including ''[[Family Guy]]'', ''[[The Simpsons]]'',<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theregister.com/AMP/2023/06/12/clippy_designer_embarrassed/ | title=Clippy designer was too embarrassed to include him in his portfolio | access-date=2023-06-13 | archive-date=2023-06-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230613040152/https://www.theregister.com/AMP/2023/06/12/clippy_designer_embarrassed/ | url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Office (U.S. TV series)|The Office]]''<ref name="Revival">{{cite web|last=Cassidy|first=Benjamin|title=The Twisted Life of Clippy|url=https://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-city-life/2022/08/origin-story-of-clippy-the-microsoft-office-assistant|website=SeattleMet|date=August 25, 2022|access-date=August 29, 2022|quote=But nearly three decades after its genesis at the Redmond tech giant, Clippit—better known as Clippy—improbably lives on.}}</ref> ''[[Silicon Valley (TV series)|Silicon Valley]],''<ref>{{cite web |first=Caleb |last=Pershan |url=https://sfist.com/2016/06/20/silicon_valley_hbo_season_3_episode_9/ |title=''Silicon Valley'' Ep. 3.9: 'Pipey' |website=sfist |date=June 20, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623092248/http://sfist.com/2016/06/20/silicon_valley_hbo_season_3_episode_9.php |archive-date=June 23, 2016}}</ref> ''and [[the Amazing World of Gumball]]''.

=== Parodies ===
There is a Clippit parody in the ''Plus! Dancer'' application included in [[Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition]] which is later included as ''Windows Dancer'' in [[Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005]]. The dancing character '''Boo Who'''?<ref>{{cite web |title=Microsoft.com |url=https://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/desktop/dancers.mspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050214030453/https://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/desktop/dancers.mspx |archive-date=2005-02-14 |access-date=2017-09-27 |publisher=Microsoft.com}}</ref> is wearing a ghost outfit, roughly having the shape of Clippit's body, with a piece of wire visible underneath. Occasionally, the white sheet slips, and reveals the thin curve of steel. The description mentions "working for a short while for a Redmond, WA based software company, where he continued to work until being retired in 2001".

Clippit was featured in the music video for [["Weird Al" Yankovic]]'s song "[[Word Crimes]]."<ref>{{Cite web |title="Weird Al" Yankovic - Word Crimes (Official 4K Video) |date=15 July 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gv0H-vPoDc |via=www.youtube.com |access-date=27 November 2017 |archive-date=28 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171128191430/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gv0H-vPoDc |url-status=live }}</ref>

Vigor is a Clippit-inspired parody software—a version of the [[Vi (text editor)|vi]] text editor featuring a rough-sketched Clippit. The name is a [[portmanteau]] of vi (the name of the Unix text editor) and [[Igor (fictional character)|Igor]], [[Dr. Frankenstein]]'s assistant. Vigor has spawned ports to other text editors as well, including [[Vim (text editor)|Vim]].

On April 1, 2015, social media website [[Tumblr]] created a parody of Clippit, Coppy, as an April Fools joke. Coppy is an anthropomorphized photocopier that behaved in similar ways to Clippit, asking the user if they want help. Coppy would engage the reader in a series of pointless questions, with a dialogue box written in [[Comic Sans MS]], which was deliberately designed to be extremely annoying.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mallikarjuna |first=Krutika |date=April 3, 2015 |title=Coppy Was The Best Damn Thing That Ever Happened To Tumblr |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/kmallikarjuna/coppy-was-the-best-damn-thing-that-ever-happened-to-tumblr |access-date=May 2, 2019 |website=[[BuzzFeed]]}}</ref> In 2022, Tumblr created a [[Youtooz]] collectible of Coppy.

Multiple episodes of ''[[Star Trek: Lower Decks]]'' feature a holographic character named "Badgey" who takes the anthropomorphic form of the communication badges featured in the series. The character is initially imbued with characteristics reminiscent of Clippit, but malfunctions and becomes a recurring antagonist.

A [[hypercasual game]] for mobile devices and on [[Windows]] and [[macOS]] via [[Steam (service)|Steam]] called ''Progressbar95'' features a spoof of Clippit as a common NPC, often part of annoying popups or carrying sticks of dynamite or guns to hurt the player's progress.

=== Other pop culture allusions ===
In a June 2008 episode of the [[NPR]] show ''[[Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!]]'' marking the occasion of [[Bill Gates]] transitioning to semi-retirement from Microsoft, humorist [[Adam Felber]] and comedian [[Paul Provenza]] ad-lib a scenario in which Clippit is being driven to a location outside of [[Redmond, Washington]], at night and says such things as "It looks like you're digging a grave. Is this a business grave or a personal grave?" The segment has become one of the most requested by listeners for replay during "best of" reviews of the show.<ref>{{cite web |date=2013-12-28 |title=Clippy and Paula |url=https://www.npr.org/2013/12/28/257559232/clippy-and-paula |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=NPR.org |archive-date=2022-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605100852/https://www.npr.org/2013/12/28/257559232/clippy-and-paula |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2015, a music video directed by Chris Bristow was released for [[Delta Heavy]]'s song ''Ghost'', which features a saddened Clippit discovering Shania, a modern voice-activated digital assistant, and later on Clippit becomes angry upon discovering the modern landscape of the world.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Velez |first1=Cat |title=Delta Heavy 'Ghost' by Chris Bristow |url=https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2015/08/14/delta-heavy-ghost-chris-bristow/36111 |access-date=14 February 2023 |website=Promonews}}</ref>

In the thirteenth season of the [[Dungeons & Dragons|Dungeons and Dragons]] actual play show [[Dimension 20]] (set in the world of [[Starstruck (comics)|Starstruck]]), Clippit was used as the basis of a planetary superintelligence called Gnosis in the far future.

In [[Catherynne M. Valente]]'s 2018 novel ''[[Space Opera (Valente novel)|Space Opera]]'', two humans have been whisked to a distant planet to take part in a music contest that could lead to humanity being destroyed. Soon after arrival, they are disoriented and in great danger, and find themselves confronted by a giant animated Clippit, created by a sentient AI collective based on what it had found was widespread on human computers.

Clippit appears as a mentor non-player character in the artificial-intelligence-based air traffic control system for [[Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020 video game)|Microsoft Flight Simulator]] and [[X-Plane (simulator)|X-Plane]], SayIntentions.AI.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxY7rVPxWLg |title=Diverted Say intentions IFR flight with Mentor Clippy this guy is useless |date=2024-06-17 |last=Wings and Wrecks |access-date=2024-06-17 |via=YouTube |archive-date=2024-06-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617173245/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxY7rVPxWLg |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the 2021 video game, ''[[Halo Infinite]]'', Clippit appears as an equippable weapon charm.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/4/23056969/clippy-halo-infinite-emblem-charm-unlockable|title=Clippy is in Halo Infinite / 'I see you've only been able to hold the oddball for two seconds...'|first1=Mitchell|last1=Clark|date=2022-05-04|website=The Verge|access-date=2024-12-05|archive-date=2024-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207171725/https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/4/23056969/clippy-halo-infinite-emblem-charm-unlockable|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2011, in the web series, [[Animator vs. Animation]] 3, Clippit appears to fight the Chosen One.

In 2024, the Finnish DJ, [[Teemu Keisteri|Windows95Man]] created a song about Clippit, the song being named Paperclip.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spotify |url=https://open.spotify.com/track/3mlAPL4XH2iLtCCs7OMe01?si=08042de22c0f4b43 |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=open.spotify.com}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[BonziBuddy]]
* [[Cortana (virtual assistant)]]
* [[Microsoft Agent]]
* [[Microsoft Bob]]
* [[Microsoft Copilot]]
* [[Microsoft Office]]
* [[Talking Moose]]
* [[Virtual assistant]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==

{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite web |last1=McMillan |first1=Robert |title=The Demoted Microsoft Worker Getting His Revenge |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=2024-03-02 |url=https://www.wsj.com/tech/microsoft-clippy-office-ai-virtual-assistant-5cf44348 |language=en-US |access-date=2024-03-04 |df=mdy-all |archive-date=2024-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304032309/https://www.wsj.com/tech/microsoft-clippy-office-ai-virtual-assistant-5cf44348 |url-status=live }}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* [http://zdnet.com.au/reviews/software/productivity/soa/Microsoft_Office_12_0_pre_Beta_1/0,39023447,39212421,00.htm Clippy discontinued in Office 12] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060808202624/http://zdnet.com.au/reviews/software/productivity/soa/Microsoft_Office_12_0_pre_Beta_1/0,39023447,39212421,00.htm |date=2006-08-08 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070715025544/http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/CD010226181033.aspx Download additional Agents Office 97] (Quiet Office Logo, Kairu, Earl, F1)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20010331043133/http://office.microsoft.com/downloaddetails/dolphin.htm Download Office 97 Assistant: Kairu the Dolphin]
* [http://www.neowin.net/news/clippy-returns-in-microsofts-april-fooks-pranks Clippy returns in Microsoft's April Fools' pranks]
* [http://xenon.stanford.edu/~lswartz/paperclip/ Luke Swartz — Why People Hate the Paperclip] – Academic paper on why people hate the Office Assistant
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070507030114/http://www.msagentring.org/chars.aspx Microsoft Agent Ring - download more unofficial characters]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080315183340/http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2001/apr01/04-11clippy.mspx "Farewell Clippy: What's Happening to the Infamous Office Assistant in Office XP" (April 2001)] at [[Microsoft.com]]

{{Microsoft Office}}

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[[Category:Microsoft Office|Assistant]]
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[[Category:Computing mascots]]
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