Microsoft is set to roll out new autonomous artificial intelligence agents that businesses can utilize to enhance their operations. At an “AI Tour” event in London, the company announced that organizations will be able to create their own AI agents within Copilot Studio, a platform designed for building assistant tools.
These autonomous agents, previously available in private preview, will move into public preview next month, allowing more organizations to leverage AI technology. These agents can function as virtual workers capable of performing tasks independently without constant supervision, marking a significant advancement in AI technology.
In addition to enabling the creation of autonomous agents in Copilot Studio, Microsoft also revealed plans to launch 10 new agents in Dynamics 365, their suite of enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management applications. These agents will cater to various functions such as sales, service, finance, and supply chain teams.
During the event, Microsoft showcased an example of an AI agent developed by consulting firm McKinsey. The AI agent demonstrated how it could analyze emails, extract relevant information, map it to industry terms, identify the appropriate personnel, and draft a response, all without the need for complex programming. This showcases the practical application of AI agents in streamlining business processes and reducing lead times significantly.
Microsoft’s focus on AI agents comes at a time when competition in the AI industry is intensifying. Salesforce recently introduced its Agentforce platform, enabling organizations to create their AI agents. Salesforce’s CEO of U.K. and Ireland criticized Microsoft’s copilot model, emphasizing the importance of AI agents grounded in customer data for accurate representation and responsible decision-making.
While Salesforce and Microsoft have had a history of rivalry, with Salesforce’s CEO previously calling for an investigation into Microsoft’s acquisition of LinkedIn, Microsoft remains committed to advancing AI technology. The company recently secured a five-year deal with the U.K. government to provide public sector organizations access to its AI tools, including Microsoft 365 Copilot, Azure cloud platform, and productivity suite.
Overall, Microsoft’s upcoming launch of autonomous AI agents signifies a significant step forward in AI technology adoption for businesses. By empowering organizations to create their AI assistants and enhancing productivity across various functions, Microsoft aims to drive innovation and efficiency in the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.
