Microsoft steps toward 'agentic' Copilot

Microsoft is preparing a more autonomous Copilot that can keep working on tasks after a prompt, with a public reveal expected at Build on June 2-3. (computerworld.com) (build.microsoft.com) The shift is from a chatbot that answers one request at a time to software that can carry out ongoing jobs such as triaging email and managing calendars inside Microsoft’s workplace products. CNET and Computerworld both reported the company is developing those “agentic” features now. (cnet.com) (computerworld.com) Microsoft already sells the plumbing for that model through Copilot Studio, its tool for building custom agents and automated workflows for business users. Microsoft’s current documentation says Copilot Studio supports “agentic workflows,” “agent flows,” and multi-agent systems that let one software agent hand work to another. (learn.microsoft.com 1) (learn.microsoft.com 2) (microsoft.com) In plain terms, an “agent” is software that does more than draft text: it can watch for a condition, choose a next step, and complete a sequence of actions across apps. Microsoft’s own product pages now describe Copilot Studio as a platform to “build AI agents” and manage them inside business workflows. (microsoft.com) (learn.microsoft.com) The timing reflects a broader race in enterprise artificial intelligence, where vendors are trying to move from assistants that summarize work to systems that perform parts of the work. Microsoft said in a January 26, 2026 blog post that organizations have shifted over the past 12 months from experimenting with agents to expecting “measurable impact” from them. (microsoft.com) Microsoft is also changing how it packages Copilot. Computerworld reported the company wants to push Copilot more as a paid standalone product instead of relying as heavily on bundling it into larger software suites. (computerworld.com) That would put more pressure on Microsoft to show that Copilot can do repeatable office work, not just write emails and meeting notes. The company’s March 18 release-wave plan points to new capabilities shipping between April 2026 and September 2026 across Copilot Studio and role-based Microsoft 365 Copilot offerings. (microsoft.com) (learn.microsoft.com) The outside influence here is OpenClaw, an open-source project that has drawn attention for showing how an agent can chain together actions with less human supervision. The Information first reported Microsoft was building Copilot features inspired by OpenClaw, and TechCrunch said Microsoft confirmed it was testing OpenClaw-like ideas inside Microsoft 365 Copilot for enterprise use. (theinformation.com) (techcrunch.com) Microsoft’s pitch is likely to center on giving those agents tighter controls than consumer-style autonomous tools. CNET reported the company is trying to build a safer version for business customers, and Microsoft’s recent Copilot Studio updates emphasize governance, monitoring, and orchestration alongside autonomy. (cnet.com) (microsoft.com 1) (microsoft.com 2) Build is now the next checkpoint. If Microsoft uses its June 2-3 conference to turn Copilot into an always-on worker instead of an on-demand assistant, the company will be asking customers to buy software that acts on their behalf, not just talks back. (build.microsoft.com) (cnet.com)