Microsoft to Launch Autonomous AI Agents Next Month
Microsoft will enable its customers to create autonomous artificial intelligence agents starting next month, as part of its strategy to capitalize on the growing interest in AI technology amidst increasing scrutiny of its substantial investments in the field.
The company is promoting these autonomous agents—programs that require minimal human intervention, unlike traditional chatbots—as “apps for an AI-driven world.” These agents are designed to manage client inquiries, identify sales leads, and oversee inventory tasks.
Other major tech firms, such as Salesforce, have also highlighted the potential of such tools, which some analysts believe could help companies monetize the significant investments they are making in AI.
Beginning in November, customers can use Copilot Studio—a user-friendly application that requires little coding knowledge—to develop these agents in public preview. Microsoft will utilize several AI models, developed both in-house and by OpenAI, for this initiative.
Additionally, the company will introduce 10 pre-built agents that can assist with routine tasks such as supply chain management, expense tracking, and client communications. In a demonstration, McKinsey & Co., which had early access to the tools, created an agent capable of managing client inquiries by reviewing interaction history, identifying the appropriate consultant, and scheduling follow-up meetings.
Charles Lamanna, Microsoft’s corporate vice president of business and industry Copilot, stated, “The idea is that Copilot acts as the user interface for AI. Every employee will have a Copilot, their personalized AI agent, which they will use to interact with the array of AI agents available.”
Amid growing pressure to demonstrate returns on their substantial AI investments, tech giants like Microsoft are under scrutiny. Microsoft’s shares fell by 2.8% in the September quarter, lagging behind the S&P 500 (.SPX), although they remain over 10% higher for the year. Recent concerns have emerged regarding the pace of Copilot adoption; a survey by Gartner in August revealed that the majority of 152 IT organizations surveyed had not moved their Copilot initiatives beyond the pilot phase.
Source: Reuters
