Software engineer brings Microsoft Office's Clippy back to life with AI capabilities

In the mid-1990s and early 2000s, Microsoft's Clippy (aka Clippit), an animated paperclip feature used to offer tips on how to make good use of productivity tools. For most people, it was overwhelmingly naggy and it was disabled after a few days of usage. So, based on negative feedback, Microsoft retired the Clippy with the launch of the Office 2007 edition.

Ironically, just when social media platforms started to grow in usage worldwide, Clippy turned into a global pop culture icon and a fun source material for making memes.

Now, software engineer ‪Felix Rieseberg has resurrected the Clippy with Artificial Intelligence capability. It retains the retro look of the paperclip with expressive cartoonish rounder eyes and eyebrows.

In its new avatar, Clippy can be integrated with the latest generative Artificial Intelligence Large Language Models (LLMs) to offer digital assistance service on most desktops including Macs with Apple silicon, intel chipsets, Windows PCs, and 64-bit Linux-based computers.

"This app is not affiliated, approved, or supported by Microsoft. This project isn't trying to be your best chatbot. I'd like you to enjoy a weird mix of nostalgia for 1990s technology paired with one the most magical technologies we can run on our computers in 2025," says San Francisco-based ‪engineer Felix Rieseberg.

Those who want the retro PC feel on your latest computer can install the app from the Felix Rieseberg's website (here).

Be advised only those with technical knowledge should try installing this software, as this app is not officially approved by computer makers.

It should be noted that Microsoft did bring back Clippy in 2021, but in a sticker pack for Teams app.

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