Microsoft unveils autonomous AI agents

These agents, distinct from chatbots, can handle tasks such as client inquiries and sales lead identification with little human intervention.
Microsoft has released BitNet b1.58 2B4T, the largest 1-bit AI model yet, delivering faster performance and better efficiency using CPUs instead of GPUs.

Microsoft has announced that starting in November, customers can build autonomous AI agents through its Copilot Studio, marking a significant step in the company’s AI-driven strategy. Unlike traditional chatbots, these autonomous agents require minimal human intervention and can perform tasks like handling customer inquiries, identifying sales leads, and managing inventory. Microsoft sees these agents as crucial tools for an AI-driven world where businesses can automate routine processes more efficiently.

The move follows a growing trend among tech giants, including Salesforce, to monetise AI investments by offering companies practical, user-friendly tools. Copilot Studio will allow Microsoft customers to create these autonomous agents without needing advanced coding skills. Using a combination of Microsoft’s in-house AI models and technology from OpenAI, the software giant is poised to expand its AI offerings to a broader audience.

In addition to enabling custom-built agents, Microsoft will provide ten pre-made agents designed to handle everyday business tasks, such as managing supply chains, tracking expenses, and communicating with clients. McKinsey and Co., which had early access to these tools, successfully created an agent to streamline client inquiries, showing the potential for real-world application.

Charles Lamanna, corporate vice president at Microsoft, emphasised that Copilot would be the user interface for interacting with these AI agents, envisioning a future where every employee has a personalised AI assistant. These agents could become essential in how businesses interact with AI technology daily.

Why does it matter?

Despite Microsoft’s ambitious AI plans, there have been concerns about the pace of Copilot’s adoption. Recent surveys from Gartner indicated that many organisations have not moved beyond the pilot phase with these AI tools. While Microsoft’s stock has seen ups and downs, investor pressure continues to mount for the company to demonstrate concrete returns on its AI investments. Nonetheless, with the release of Copilot Studio, Microsoft aims to accelerate AI adoption and solidify its role in the evolving AI landscape.