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.

Microsoft is launching artificial intelligence-driven “autonomous agents” for its Copilot software, the company said Monday, in a move seemingly made to push Salesforce on customer management software.

Microsoft launches autonomous AI agents for Dynamics 365, challenging Salesforce's Agentforce in the race to dominate enterprise AI and reshape the future of work.

The software giant first announced the ability to create and deploy agents within its Copilot AI assistant earlier this year and is now gearing up to introduce them to users

The agents are like smartphone apps for the AI age, said Microsoft's Jared Spataro.

The AI tools, some acting autonomously and others in concert with a worker, can complete tasks like researching and sorting through sales leads or updating a customer support ticket after a phone call. 

Microsoft, under CEO Satya Nadella, is adding new AI capabilities including AI agents that can complete tasks and oversee business processes autonomously.