Microsoft has launched Copilot Cowork. This allows Copilot to not only provide answers but also perform tasks itself within Microsoft 365.
Microsoft is giving Copilot new features designed to help users delegate tasks to AI. According to Microsoft, users can use Copilot Cowork to request a desired result via a prompt, and Copilot then creates a plan and executes it. To do this, the AI agent uses data from Outlook, Teams, Excel, and other Microsoft 365 applications.
From chatbot to assistant
When a user delegates a task, Cowork converts the command into an executable plan, according to Microsoft. This plan runs in the background and includes checkpoints so users can monitor progress, make changes, or pause execution.
The AI can manage tasks simultaneously. This allows different assignments to be carried out at the same time while the user focuses on other work.
From planning to research
Microsoft demonstrates various scenarios in which Cowork automates tasks. For example, the AI could analyze an Outlook calendar, detect conflicts, and make suggestions to reschedule meetings or block out focus time.
Cowork could also conduct research by gathering information from documents, emails, and external sources, and then compiling it into summaries, analyses, and spreadsheets that are immediately useful for further decision-making.