Microsoft to Launch Autonomous AI Agents

By Aditya Soni
(Reuters)
Microsoft will allow its customers to build autonomous artificial intelligence agents from next month, marking its latest effort to tap into the booming AI technology sector amidst increasing investor scrutiny over its significant investments in the field.

The company is positioning these autonomous agents, which require minimal human intervention unlike traditional chatbots, as "apps for an AI-driven world". These agents can handle client queries, identify sales leads, and manage inventory effectively.

Other major technology firms, including Salesforce, have also emphasized the potential of such agents, which analysts believe could offer companies easier avenues to monetize their substantial AI investments.

Microsoft stated that from November, its customers will have access to Copilot Studio, an application that requires little coding knowledge, to develop these agents. The company plans to utilize various in-house AI models alongside those developed by OpenAI.

Additionally, Microsoft is introducing 10 ready-to-use agents designed to assist with routine tasks like supply chain management, expense tracking, and client communications.

In a demonstration, McKinsey & Co, which had early access to these tools, created an agent capable of managing client inquiries by reviewing interaction history, identifying the appropriate consultant for specific tasks, and scheduling follow-up meetings.

Charles Lamanna, corporate vice president of business and industry Copilot at Microsoft, remarked, "The idea is that Copilot (the company's chatbot) is the user interface for AI. Every employee will have a Copilot, their personalized AI agent, using that to interface with the multitude of AI agents available."

Tech giants are under pressure to deliver returns on their significant AI investments. Microsoft's shares declined by 2.8% in the September quarter, falling short of the S&P 500's performance, although they have surged over 10% year-to-date.

Recent months have seen rising concerns about the pace of Copilot adoption. A survey by research firm Gartner in August found that the majority of 152 IT organizations have not moved past the pilot phase of their Copilot initiatives.