Microsoft plans to launch AI employees next month

Microsoft is preparing to introduce autonomous AI agents next month, marking a major step in the company's push to integrate artificial intelligence into everyday business operations.

In Short

• Microsoft is preparing to introduce autonomous AI agents next month
• These AI-powered virtual employees are designed to handle tasks
• They can help handle client queries, sales lead identification, and supply chain management

Microsoft is preparing to introduce autonomous AI agents next month, marking a major step in the company’s push to integrate artificial intelligence into everyday business operations. These AI-powered virtual employees are designed to handle tasks like client queries, sales lead identification, and supply chain management, as the tech industry looks to prove the practical value of AI advancements.

With its new product, Copilot Studio, Microsoft will allow companies to create their own AI agents without requiring any coding skills. In addition, the company plans to release 10 pre-configured AI agents designed for specific functions, such as customer service and supply chain tasks. Early adopters, including consulting firm McKinsey, law firm Clifford Chance, and retailer Pets at Home, are already leveraging these agents to streamline operations like scheduling meetings and managing customer inquiries.

During a recent event in London, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella highlighted the potential of these AI agents to enhance workplace productivity by eliminating repetitive tasks. Nadella noted that these tools could revolutionize outsourcing by improving efficiency and reducing wasted time. He highlighted that AI agents will allow employees to focus on more important tasks, reducing what he called the “drudgery” of routine work.

Copilot Studio aims to simplify the creation of AI agents, requiring no technical knowledge from users. These agents will be powered by AI models developed by Microsoft, as well as technology from OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT.

Microsoft's AI ambitions extend even further, with the company working on an agent capable of performing transactions on behalf of users. Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft’s head of AI, revealed that although early prototypes of this transaction-capable agent have faced challenges, the technology is progressing rapidly and could be available in a few months.

Despite the excitement around these developments, there are concerns about the potential impact of AI agents on employment. However, Charles Lamanna, a corporate vice-president at Microsoft, compared the introduction of AI agents to the advent of personal computers, which initially were adopted in specific areas but eventually became indispensable across all workplaces. Lamanna told The Guardian that AI agents would empower employees by taking over monotonous tasks, enabling them to focus on more creative and meaningful work.

Industry experts believe AI agents could provide a return on the significant investments tech companies have made in AI. Andrew Rogoyski, director at the Institute for People-Centred AI at the University of Surrey, noted that while it's still uncertain how much revenue AI agents will generate, they could showcase the practical benefits of AI and help justify the billions of dollars that have been poured into AI research and development.