Microsoft Corporation is set to enhance its artificial intelligence (AI) portfolio with the launch of autonomous AI tools designed to streamline tasks for business workers.
These AI “agents” will be capable of managing emails, handling records, and performing other routine tasks autonomously, pushing Microsoft deeper into competition with other tech giants such as Salesforce.
The software company, headquartered in Redmond, Washington, announced the release of 10 new autonomous agents, which will be available in “public preview” starting December 2024, with a full rollout extending into 2025.
These agents, integrated into Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 software, are designed to assist in areas like sales, customer support, and accounting by taking on repetitive tasks that typically consume significant time and resources.
In addition to these pre-built agents, Microsoft’s Copilot Studio will soon allow businesses to create custom agents tailored to their specific needs. The feature will enable these agents to act independently, without constant human prompts, marking the next step in AI development. This new capability is set to be released in preview next month.
Jared Spataro, who leads Microsoft’s workplace AI products, likened these AI agents to modern smartphone apps but built for the AI era. “We have found places where people spend tons of time and money on tasks they wish they didn’t have to do but are required to repeat over and over,” Spataro said. “There’s a high yield in automating these processes.” The agents will be capable of tasks such as researching and organizing sales leads or automatically updating customer support tickets after interactions.
Microsoft’s AI push comes on the heels of its groundbreaking partnership with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. Since 2023, the company has been steadily incorporating AI features into products like Word and Outlook through its Copilot initiative, which relies on user prompts. The shift towards autonomous agents represents a new phase of innovation—these tools won’t just respond to prompts but will proactively complete complex tasks using generative AI and access to existing software and databases.
The competitive landscape in AI-driven business solutions is heating up. Salesforce, the leading customer relationship management (CRM) provider, has also placed a strong emphasis on AI agents. At its Dreamforce conference in September 2024, Salesforce unveiled “Agentforce,” its autonomous tool for customer service, which will launch later this month at an initial pricing of around $2 per conversation. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has been vocal in criticizing Microsoft’s AI approach, recently stating that Copilot’s delivery has been “disappointing.”
Despite the rivalry, Microsoft remains focused on refining its AI products and expanding its reach. Spataro emphasized that success in the AI space will ultimately come down to which companies can deliver real value to customers. “All the competitive positioning will come down to who’s got the product that real customers are using and what benefits they’re realizing,” he said.
Microsoft’s autonomous agents will be available to businesses as part of its Dynamics 365 software, while Copilot Studio will be bundled with the Microsoft 365 Copilot suite, which is sold at $30 per user per month. As the battle for AI supremacy intensifies, businesses will have an expanding array of tools at their disposal to automate routine tasks and boost productivity.
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