--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Microsoft is still living down its…" description: "\"“Microsoft is still living down its disastrous introduction of Clippy, a ghastly piece of artificial intelligence - I'm using that term very loosely - ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/clive-thompson-15484_artificial-intellige_microsoft-is-still-living-down-its-disas_1475419.jpg" --- # Microsoft is still living down its disastrous introduction… ![“Microsoft is still living down its disastrous introduction of Clippy, a ghastly piece of artificial intelligence - I'm using that term very loosely - that would observe people's behavior as they worked on a document and try to bust in, offering 'advice' that tended to be spectacularly useless” quote by Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/clive-thompson-15484_artificial-intellige_microsoft-is-still-living-down-its-disas_1475419.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/clive-thompson-15484_artificial-intellige_microsoft-is-still-living-down-its-disas_1475419.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/clive-thompson-15484_artificial-intellige_microsoft-is-still-living-down-its-disas_1475419.jpg) > ““Microsoft is still living down its disastrous introduction of Clippy, a ghastly piece of artificial intelligence - I'm using that term very loosely - that would observe people's behavior as they worked on a document and try to bust in, offering 'advice' that tended to be spectacularly useless”” [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Clippy was an early AI assistant that tried to help but often failed, highlighting the challenges of context-aware assistance. **In simple terms:** AI can be intrusive and unhelpful. Key Takeaway Design AI that truly understands user context. Themes technology AI user experience Mood critical analytical Type technological critical When to use this quote - software design - product testing - user feedback Key Concepts human-computer interaction assistive tech Questions to Reflect On - How can AI be less intrusive? - What makes an assistant useful? A Different Perspective AI may improve with better data. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artificial intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artificial-intelligence/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [People's Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peoples-behavior/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes people's behavior is seemingly unexplainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-scott/sometimes-people-s-behavior-is-seemingly-unexplainable/) [Adam Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-scott/) > [Handheld camera is approximating what we're seeing when we're looking at each other, and kind of looking around, and your eyes whipping around. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/handheld-camera-is-approximating-what-we-re-seeing-when-we-re-looking/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [Whoever thought of making ballet? I mean, what is it? It's so alien. You just look at people's behavior as well - people trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/whoever-thought-of-making-ballet-i-mean-what-is-it-it-s-so-alien-you/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [“I like the relaxed way in which the Japanese approach religion. I think of myself as basically a moral person, but I'm definitely not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/i-like-the-relaxed-way-in-which-the-japanese-approach-religion-i/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Does the full moon affect people's behavior, you ask? Yup. It makes people think the full moon affects people's behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/does-the-full-moon-affect-people-s-behavior-you-ask-yup-it-makes/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [When we avoid personalizing other people's behaviors, we can perceive their expressions more objectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/when-we-avoid-personalizing-other-people-s-behaviors-we-can-perceive/) Senoraroy > [People's behavior will change with technology. I know very few young people who can't type out a text message on their phone with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/people-s-behavior-will-change-with-technology-i-know-very-few-young/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [For many people, one of the most frustrating aspects of life is not being able to understand other people's behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/for-many-people-one-of-the-most-frustrating-aspects-of-life-is-not/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Were we fully to understand the reasons for other people's behavior, it would all make sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/were-we-fully-to-understand-the-reasons-for-other-people-s-behavior/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [Comedy is a reaction to the world, and I think it really helps to be an outsider. I've always been very interested in people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriana-trigiani/comedy-is-a-reaction-to-the-world-and-i-think-it-really-helps-to-be/) [Adriana Trigiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriana-trigiani/) > [Architecture is inherently a totalitarian activity. One thing we hate about it is that when you design a space, you're probably designing people's behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/architecture-is-inherently-a-totalitarian-activity-one-thing-we-hate/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [Rescuing women from their burden of unwarranted guilt is going to require 'educational practices and socializing agents' even more effective than the ones that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germaine-greer/rescuing-women-from-their-burden-of-unwarranted-guilt-is-going-to/) [Germaine Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germaine-greer/) > [“when you seek to reduce risk by imposing constraints on other people's behavior, you transfer that risk onto others. By doing this you say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-veaux/when-you-seek-to-reduce-risk-by-imposing-constraints-on-other-people/) [Franklin Veaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-veaux/) > [The people who have the biggest passion for restricting other people's behavior are the very people we should worry about most. Unfortunately, they keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stossel/the-people-who-have-the-biggest-passion-for-restricting-other-people/) [John Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stossel/) > [To a certain extent, people's behavior in a campaign is generally a reflection of how they would act in office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/to-a-certain-extent-people-s-behavior-in-a-campaign-is-generally-a/) [John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/) ## More by Clive Thompson > [The Internet lets thousands of total strangers collaborate to produce a truly hivelike result.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/the-internet-lets-thousands-of-total-strangers-collaborate-to-produce/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [Novelists in particular love to rhapsodize about the glory of the solitary mind; this is natural, because their job requires them to sit in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/novelists-in-particular-love-to-rhapsodize-about-the-glory-of-the/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [When you're an expert in a subject, you can retain new factoids on your favorite topic easily. This only works for the subjects you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/when-you-re-an-expert-in-a-subject-you-can-retain-new-factoids-on/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [Why are online games so addictive? It's mostly the narcotic appeal of 'leveling.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/why-are-online-games-so-addictive-it-s-mostly-the-narcotic-appeal-of/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [More than any other modern tool, computers are a total mystery to their users. Most people never open them up to fix them or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/more-than-any-other-modern-tool-computers-are-a-total-mystery-to/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [When you broadcast your book reading voluntarily, it creates moments of fascinating serendipity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/when-you-broadcast-your-book-reading-voluntarily-it-creates-moments/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [The only reason we don't notice how absolutely interwoven our thinking processes have become with older technologies - pencils, paper, electric light, penicillin, fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/the-only-reason-we-don-t-notice-how-absolutely-interwoven-our/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [“While reading Kasparov’s book How Life Imitates Chess on my Kindle, I idly clicked on “popular highlights” to see what passages other readers had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/while-reading-kasparov-s-book-how-life-imitates-chess-on-my-kindle-i/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [The main message of 'Smarter Than You Think' is an attempt to look at the productively new and interesting ways that we have begun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/the-main-message-of-smarter-than-you-think-is-an-attempt-to-look-at/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [There is something about the ability to externalize our thoughts and compare them with other people in a public way that is really transformative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/there-is-something-about-the-ability-to-externalize-our-thoughts-and/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [Type as quickly as you can and always carry a pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/type-as-quickly-as-you-can-and-always-carry-a-pencil/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [I don't think the Internet has replaced cities in any significant way, nor really could it. Cities are dynamic - and deeply seductive for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/i-don-t-think-the-internet-has-replaced-cities-in-any-significant-way/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [Railing at scientists for massaging tree-ring statistics won't stop the globe from warming if the globe is actually, you know, warming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/railing-at-scientists-for-massaging-tree-ring-statistics-won-t-stop/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [Transactive memory works best when you have a sense of how your partners' minds work - where they're strong, where they're weak, where their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/transactive-memory-works-best-when-you-have-a-sense-of-how-your/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [The amount of writing that people do online is astonishing, and historically unprecedented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/the-amount-of-writing-that-people-do-online-is-astonishing-and/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) [Explore all 43 Clive Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) ## More Artificial intelligence quotes > [One of our big goals in search is to make search that really understands exactly what you want, understands everything in the world. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-page/one-of-our-big-goals-in-search-is-to-make-search-that-really/) [Larry Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-page/) > [People don't want to believe that technology is broken. Pharmaceuticals, robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology - all these areas where the progress has been a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-thiel/people-don-t-want-to-believe-that-technology-is-broken/) [Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/) > [“Paul closed his eyes and turned his face to the sun. In spite of everything, it was hard not to take solace from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-egan/paul-closed-his-eyes-and-turned-his-face-to-the-sun-in-spite-of/) [Greg Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-egan/) > [I think we should be very careful about artificial intelligence. If I had to guess at what our biggest existential threat is, it's probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/i-think-we-should-be-very-careful-about-artificial-intelligence-if-i/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [“Humans are the biological bootloader for AI.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utpal-nandi/humans-are-the-biological-bootloader-for-ai/) Utpal Nandi > [There's a very long tail of all sorts of creative products - beyond our core web search, image search and advertising businesses - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ng/there-s-a-very-long-tail-of-all-sorts-of-creative-products-beyond-our/) [Andrew Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ng/) > [“artificial intelligence is forcing human endeavor away from simple, algorithmic and repetitive tasks towards solving problems and incubating new ideas. It is the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyan-nagpal/artificial-intelligence-is-forcing-human-endeavor-away-from-simple/) [Gyan Nagpal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyan-nagpal/) > [“All right. You want to know about Nigel. I’ll tell you about Nigel. He’s come a long way since that so-called accident, Jon. Heck,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-corey/all-right-you-want-to-know-about-nigel-i-ll-tell-you-about-nigel-he-s/) Shawn Corey > [A lot was happening in A.I. But I also realized it wasn't clear what Salesforce's role in A.I. was. That's when we started acquiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-benioff/a-lot-was-happening-in-a-i-but-i-also-realized-it-wasn-t-clear-what/) [Marc Benioff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-benioff/) > [“AI must orbit humanity, not turn humanity into a lie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/ai-must-orbit-humanity-not-turn-humanity-into-a-lie/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [AI-assisted driving is a perfect platform for advancing fundamental human-centric artificial intelligence research while also producing practical applications.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fei-fei-li/ai-assisted-driving-is-a-perfect-platform-for-advancing-fundamental/) [Fei-Fei Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fei-fei-li/) > [Only unsolvable problems are worthy of artificial intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-gorn/only-unsolvable-problems-are-worthy-of-artificial-intelligence/) [Saul Gorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-gorn/) > [“I don’t believe the rogue has freedom.  I think it is following the direction of humans.” “Why do you think so?” “Because I find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/i-don-t-believe-the-rogue-has-freedom-i-think-it-is-following-the/) [Walter Jon Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/) > [The techniques of artificial intelligence are to the mind what bureaucracy is to human social interaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-winograd/the-techniques-of-artificial-intelligence-are-to-the-mind-what/) [Terry Winograd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-winograd/) > [From one perspective, we're in the early stage in artificial intelligence, but exponentials start out slowly, and then they take off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-woodruff/from-one-perspective-we-re-in-the-early-stage-in-artificial/) [Judy Woodruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-woodruff/) [Browse all 457 Artificial intelligence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artificial-intelligence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Microsoft is still living down its disastrous introduction of Clippy, a ghastly piece of artificial intelligence - I'm using that term very loosely - that would observe people's behavior as they worked on a document and try to bust in, offering 'advice' that tended to be spectacularly useless”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Clive Thompson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/microsoft-is-still-living-down-its-disastrous-introduction-of-clippy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artificial intelligence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/microsoft-is-still-living-down-its-disastrous-introduction-of-clippy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/clive-thompson-15484_artificial-intellige_microsoft-is-still-living-down-its-disas_1475419.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/clive-thompson-15484_artificial-intellige_microsoft-is-still-living-down-its-disas_1475419.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42d/clive-thompson-15484_artificial-intellige_microsoft-is-still-living-down-its-disas_1475419.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Microsoft is still living down its disastrous introduction of Clippy, a ghastly piece of artificial…” — Clive Thompson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Clive Thompson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Microsoft is still living down its...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/microsoft-is-still-living-down-its-disastrous-introduction-of-clippy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/microsoft-is-still-living-down-its-disastrous-introduction-of-clippy/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```