After devoting unprecedented resources to creating AI tools that require input from users, major tech companies are now moving into the next phase of technology: “Agentic AI,” as Silicon Valley calls it. This term describes AI agents that can take action and complete tasks without human supervision. At Microsoft’s ( MSFT ) annual Ignite conference today (Nov. 19), the giant unveiled a slew of AI agents across the Microsoft 365 suite, which includes desktop applications like Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
“The best way to think about this is as a colleague,” said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella of the new agents during a keynote speech today.
The list of specialized assistants includes “Assistant Agent,” which will take real-time notes during Team meetings and share follow-up summaries, and “Project Manager Agent,” which will work within Microsoft Planner to automate project management tasks such as schedule creation and task execution. Employees will also soon be able to rely on the “Translation Agent,” an AI assistant that will provide real-time translation in up to nine languages to facilitate communication at work.
Microsoft’s agent expansion follows last month’s launch of 10 independent agents within the company’s company-focused Dynamics 365 suite solution. With skills that include communicating with suppliers, researching sales opportunities and understanding consumer intent, agents are increasingly expected to work without human intervention.
Microsoft is also giving businesses the opportunity to create their own autonomous agents through an update to Copilot Studio, an AI platform that allows users to create digital assistants. “Sometimes we make these mysterious agents look like things that take a lot of effort to build,” Nadella said. “Our view is that it should be as easy as creating a Word doc or a PowerPoint slide.”
Microsoft’s push into “Agentic AI” has not been without its challenges. As its focus tightens on AI agents, the company’s rivalry has grown with direct rivals such as Salesforce, which in October rolled out its own autonomous AI agents through its Agentforce platform.
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff last month described Microsoft Agent as “panic mode” in a post on X. A staunch critic of Microsoft’s AI products, Benioff also compared Microsoft Copilot to Clippy, the unpopular paperclip-shaped digital assistant released by the company. in the 1990s.
Despite its detractors, Microsoft says its repositioned AI position is guided by the larger goal of empowering users to make an impact through technology. “The problem with artificial intelligence is that computers don’t give anything away,” Nadella said during Microsoft Ignite, quoting the late American philosopher John Haugeland. “But we do,” added Microsoft’s CEO, noting that the company’s AI tools will help drive business transformation and improve efficiency. “It’s not about technology for technology’s sake, it’s about translating it into real results.”
