Microsoft to Launch Autonomous AI Agents for Businesses in November 2024

By DAYO ADESULU

New Features in Copilot Studio Aim to Streamline Routine Tasks Across Various Sectors

Technology giant Microsoft has announced that starting in November 2024, businesses will be able to create and manage autonomous Artificial Intelligence agents designed to handle routine tasks. This groundbreaking feature will be accessible through Microsoft’s Copilot Studio, enabling organizations to enhance efficiency in sales, service, finance, and supply chain management.

Introduction of Agentic Capabilities

In a blog post released on Monday, Microsoft, the world’s second-most valuable company with a market capitalization of $3.20 trillion, emphasized its commitment to making AI-first business processes available to all organizations. The post stated, “Today, we’re announcing new agentic capabilities that will accelerate these gains and bring AI-first business processes to every organization. First, the ability to create autonomous agents with Copilot Studio will be in public preview next month.”

Features of the Upcoming Release

The upcoming release will include ten new autonomous agents integrated into Dynamics 365. These agents will automate essential processes such as lead generation, sales order processing, and supply chain management. Microsoft revealed that these agents will utilize data from Microsoft 365 Graph, Dataverse, and other sources to meet various operational needs, including IT help desks and employee onboarding.

Wider Access for Customers

With the transition from private to public preview, a broader range of customers will have the opportunity to leverage these innovative tools to improve their critical business processes. Microsoft has already noted that several organizations are utilizing these autonomous agents to enhance their operations.

Early Adopters and Success Stories

Among the early adopters of these autonomous agents are well-known companies such as Clifford Chance, McKinsey & Company, Pets at Home, and Thomson Reuters.

• Pets at Home, the leading pet care retailer in the UK, has developed an agent for its profit protection team, resulting in more efficient case compilation for human review, which could lead to significant annual savings.
• McKinsey & Company is piloting an agent focused on expediting client onboarding, reportedly reducing lead times by 90% and administrative tasks by 30%.
• Thomson Reuters has created a professional-grade agent to streamline its legal due diligence workflow, with tests indicating that some tasks could be completed in half the usual time.

Conclusion

Microsoft’s introduction of autonomous AI agents marks a significant advancement in business technology, promising to transform how organizations manage routine tasks. As businesses prepare for the rollout in November 2024, the potential for enhanced efficiency and productivity is set to reshape various industries.