Microsoft's Horvitz on Clippy: Bayesian Prototype vs. Shipping Product
erichorvitz · x · 2026-08-20
Eric Horvitz shares the backstory of Clippy, revealing that the Microsoft Research prototype used Bayesian inference to predict user needs. The shipping product differed significantly due to scaling challenges, using a lighter inference variant and removing autonomous initiative. The infamous proactive behaviors were actually driven by a legacy rules engine, not the AI prototype.
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