AI Agents Transforming Work
On a typical Monday morning, when the caffeine hasn’t kicked in yet, AI agents might soon take over tasks for us. These AI agents can handle various responsibilities, allowing individuals to focus on more strategic aspects of their work. This concept was highlighted in a blog post by Susanna Ray, a Microsoft writer, as part of the Ignite 2024 event.
AI agents are designed to take on tasks such as responding to customer inquiries, identifying supply chain errors, or filling out delivery forms. According to Jared Spataro, Microsoft’s Chief Marketing Officer, these agents are the new apps. They are equipped with specific knowledge to perform designated tasks. Users will have access to pre-built AI agents in Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365, and they will also have the option to create custom agents from scratch using Copilot Studio. Basic agent tasks do not require programming skills.
Microsoft has introduced AI agents in various platforms. For instance, in SharePoint, agents can process content. New self-service agents for employees are integrated into BizChat, the business chat feature in Microsoft 365 Copilot. These agents can answer questions related to the employer, such as travel expense reports. A moderator agent is available in Teams to make meetings more effective by summarizing content for employees to review. This facilitator agent is currently available as a preview.
Additionally, a project manager agent can create and manage project plans, and an interpreter agent can translate nine languages in real-time. Users can even provide their own voice for the AI agent to use in meetings, speaking in different languages. This interpreter agent is expected to be released next year.
To manage the growing number of agents, Microsoft has introduced an agent library in Copilot Studio. This library allows users to create autonomous agents that can act without prompts, such as responding to emails automatically under certain conditions. New tools and opportunities for developing agents and AI applications are available through the Copilot Studio and Azure AI, as showcased at Microsoft Ignite.
In addition to AI agents, Microsoft has also introduced new features for its Copilot assistant. These advancements aim to enhance productivity and efficiency in the workplace by leveraging AI technology.