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Microsoft Set to Unveil Autonomous AI Agents for Businesses by November 2024

Written by Jerry Alomatu on October 21, 2024

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Microsoft, the global technology leader, has announced plans to roll out autonomous Artificial Intelligence agents in November 2024, aimed at enabling businesses to automate routine operations efficiently.

These innovative capabilities will be introduced through Microsoft’s Copilot Studio, providing clients with tools to enhance efficiency in sectors such as sales, customer service, finance, and supply chain management.

In a recent blog update, Microsoft—valued at approximately $3.20 trillion—highlighted its initiative to democratize AI-powered business processes for organizations of all sizes. “Today, we are excited to announce the launch of new agentic functionalities designed to facilitate AI-driven processes across various industries. The public preview of autonomous agents within Copilot Studio will commence next month,” the announcement stated.

The initial release will feature ten distinct autonomous agents integrated into Dynamics 365, tasked with automating functions like lead generation, sales order management, and supply chain tasks. These agents will leverage data from platforms such as Microsoft 365 Graph and Dataverse to fulfill diverse operational requirements, including IT support and employee onboarding.

The shift to a public preview phase will allow a broader customer base to explore these cutting-edge tools and enhance their critical business processes.

Several organizations have already begun utilizing these autonomous agents, including prominent early adopters like Clifford Chance, McKinsey & Company, Pets at Home, and Thomson Reuters.

Pets at Home, the UK’s foremost pet care retailer, has implemented an agent for its profit protection team, streamlining the case compilation process for human oversight and leading to potential substantial annual savings. Additionally, McKinsey & Company is testing an agent focused on expediting client onboarding, claiming to reduce lead times by 90% and cut administrative burdens by 30%. Thomson Reuters has also introduced a professional-grade agent aimed at refining its legal due diligence workflow, with preliminary tests suggesting that specific tasks could be completed in just half the usual time.