Microsoft is set to introduce autonomous artificial intelligence agents that can take on various tasks, including managing client inquiries and identifying potential sales leads. This move comes as the tech industry seeks to demonstrate to investors that the current AI boom can deliver essential products.
The company is enabling customers to create their own AI agents and will also offer 10 pre-built bots designed for roles such as supply chain management and customer service. This new initiative is part of Microsoft’s Copilot Studio product, which is scheduled to launch next month. Early adopters of the technology include notable firms like consulting giant McKinsey, which is developing an agent to handle new client inquiries and manage scheduling, as well as the law firm Clifford Chance and retailer Pets at Home.
During a recent event in London, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella highlighted the productivity benefits of these AI agents, stating they would alleviate mundane tasks and allow employees to focus on more significant responsibilities. “These tools are fundamentally changing outsourcing, increasing value and reducing waste,” Nadella said.
The Copilot Studio is designed for users without coding experience, offering a “no-code” platform to build their own agents. Microsoft’s AI agents are powered by a mix of proprietary models and those developed by OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. Additionally, the company is working on an AI agent capable of completing transactions on users’ behalf. Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft’s head of AI, noted that while some demonstrations have been impressive, there have been challenges during development. Nevertheless, he anticipates that this capability will be available in “quarters, not years.”
Addressing concerns about AI’s potential impact on employment, Charles Lamanna, a corporate vice-president at Microsoft, emphasized that these agents are designed to eliminate repetitive tasks. He described AI as a tool for empowerment rather than a replacement for human workers. “The introduction of AI in the workplace is similar to the arrival of personal computers decades ago,” Lamanna explained. “Initially, they were not common in every office, but over time, they became indispensable.”
Andrew Rogoyski, a director at the Institute for People-Centred AI at the University of Surrey, stated that AI agents could help tech companies deliver returns on the substantial investments made in AI technology. With $1 trillion expected to be invested in AI in the coming years, questions remain about whether this investment will yield significant returns. Rogoyski acknowledged that while assistive agents may provide tangible benefits, their revenue-generating potential is still uncertain. He also cautioned that while discussions about AI agents have been ongoing for years, a fully capable agent comparable to a human worker has yet to be realized.
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