Microsoft unveiled new features for its M365 suite at the Ignite event in Chicago, including Copilot Actions and M365 agents. Copilot is a personal assistant that uses agents in Copilot Studio to empower employees and streamline business processes. These updates build upon the autonomous agent capabilities that were announced last month. According to Microsoft’s blog, nearly 70% of Fortune 500 companies are already using Microsoft 365 Copilot.
One of the most exciting new features is Copilot Actions, which uses AI to automate everyday tasks. This feature is currently in private preview and will allow users to save time on repetitive tasks. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella highlighted the power of these actions in his keynote address, stating that they can simplify multi-step processes into a single action.
Other upgrades include faster response times, triple satisfaction rates, and hundreds of new features designed to address common workplace challenges. Copilot Pages, which will be available in early 2025, offers a dynamic collaboration canvas for teams to create and share interactive artifacts. Copilot in Teams will also be able to understand and summarize visual content from presentations and shared files, as well as file contents shared in chat.
In addition, Copilot in PowerPoint will be able to translate entire presentations into 40 languages while preserving slide design, and Copilot in Outlook will streamline scheduling and help users find focus time or arrange one-on-one meetings. Themes by Copilot in Outlook, which was introduced earlier in November 2024, allows users to create customizable email themes.
Microsoft 365 Copilot also introduces agents such as SharePoint for knowledge access, Teams Interpreter for real-time translations, and Employee Self-Service for HR tasks. Facilitator and Project Manager agents automate planning, while partnerships with companies like ServiceNow and S&P Global enhance Copilot’s capabilities and efficiency.
Nadella described these agents as teammates with specific roles and permissions, such as the project manager agent that can automate key steps in a project management workflow. These updates demonstrate Microsoft’s commitment to empowering employees and improving workplace efficiency through AI and automation.
