Microsoft Launches Autonomous AI Agents

AI agents are specialized programs designed to perform repetitive tasks automatically, such as screening leads or handling customer service requests. It's a concept that's gaining traction among major software companies, which are investing billions of dollars in powerful AI models that they believe will shape the future of computing.

Microsoft has been rapidly pushing generative AI technology to mainstream users, largely using models from its $13 billion partnership with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT.

AI agents are expected to move beyond ChatGPT-style chatbots that require human commands to systems that can operate independently. In an October 21 announcement, Microsoft introduced 10 new automated agents for its Copilot AI platform, customized to support sales, service, finance, and supply chain teams. These agents will be available in public preview in December and fully deployed by 2025.

Microsoft expects these agents to help shift traditional business processes to new work habits, driven and increasingly automated by AI.

Additionally, Microsoft announced Copilot Studio, a new tool that lets companies create and manage their own AI agents.

Other tech giants like Nvidia, Google, and Oracle are also developing their own AI agent projects. While the current power of AI agents is still limited, the development of systems capable of acting independently has raised concerns about potential risks.

According to Microsoft, these new agents will only perform simple tasks for now and will adhere to strict rules around security, privacy, and AI responsibility.