Technology
Monday, October 21st, 2024 6:22 pm EDT
Key Points
- Microsoft’s AI Agents Expansion: Microsoft will allow businesses to create their own autonomous AI agents starting next month, with these agents moving from private preview to public preview. This new capability will be available through Copilot Studio, expanding the AI’s role from chat interfaces to more seamless virtual workers capable of handling tasks without supervision.
- Competition with Salesforce: Microsoft’s move comes as competition in the AI space heats up, particularly with Salesforce, which launched its own platform called Agentforce in September. Salesforce’s UK CEO criticized Microsoft’s Copilot model, claiming it lacks deep integration into enterprise systems.
- Partnership with UK Government: Microsoft announced a five-year partnership with the UK government to offer public sector organizations access to its AI tools, including Microsoft 365, Azure, and the Microsoft 365 Copilot, further pushing AI adoption across public sector operations.
Microsoft is set to expand its AI capabilities by enabling businesses to create their own autonomous AI agents starting next month through its Copilot Studio platform. At the “AI Tour” event in London, Microsoft revealed that its autonomous AI agents, initially launched in private preview in May, will now be available in public preview. These AI agents function as virtual workers, automating tasks and blending AI more seamlessly into business operations. In addition to making AI agents customizable, Microsoft plans to introduce 10 new autonomous agents for its Dynamics 365 suite, which covers areas like sales, service, finance, and supply chain management.
Microsoft’s demonstration showcased how AI agents can efficiently handle tasks, using a real-world example from McKinsey, where an AI agent managed an email inquiry by mapping the communication to industry-standard terms and automating responses. McKinsey found that using these AI agents could reduce lead times by up to 90%, illustrating the potential for significant business value.
This move comes as competition in the AI space intensifies, particularly with Salesforce’s launch of its Agentforce platform, which allows businesses to build their own AI agents. Salesforce’s U.K. CEO, Zahra Bahrololoumi, criticized Microsoft’s Copilot model for not being fully integrated into enterprise systems, arguing that it may not represent companies accurately. Despite these competitive tensions, Microsoft continues to focus on advancing its AI strategy.
In a separate announcement, Microsoft revealed a five-year partnership with the U.K. government, offering public sector organizations access to its AI tools through the Crown Commercial Service. This agreement allows public institutions to use Microsoft’s AI-powered tools, including Microsoft 365 and Azure, with a focus on embedding AI into productivity through services like Microsoft 365 Copilot. As Microsoft deepens its AI offerings, it is positioning itself as a leader in the enterprise AI market while facing stiff competition from rivals like Salesforce.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/21/microsoft-to-allow-autonomous-ai-agent-development-next-month.html
