- Copilot Cowork is Microsoft’s comprehensive autonomous AI assistant
- Anthropic models are also available alongside OpenAI on Copilot
- Agent 365, available soon, included in the new E7 plan
Microsoft has confirmed details of the so-called ‘third wave’ of Microsoft 365 Copilot shortly after rumors began to circulate about a possible M365 E7 plan.
The company says this third wave has taken AI beyond simply assisting in completing tasks and executing workflows on behalf of users; In other words, it marks the shift from generative AI to agent AI.
And despite a long-standing relationship with OpenAI and a heavy initial reliance on GPT models, Copilot Cowork uses Claude Cowork’s similarly named Anthopic models.
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Microsoft 365 bets on agent AI
With the Anthropic-backed update, M365 Copilot will be able to handle long-running, multi-step tasks that unfold over time, making AI much more like a human worker. The tool works by coordinating actions between applications and files for added context.
A separate post from Agents and Business Applications president Charles Lamanna shows agents working to clear calendars and conducting detailed investigations. A video featured by Lamanna shared on LinkedIn also details how Copilot Cowork supports additional skills and plugins.
Anthropic’s Claude models will also be available in M365 Copilot Chat alongside the usual OpenAI models for further customization, should companies wish to do so.
Microsoft boasted that while Copilot users have grown 160% year over year, actual daily active users have increased tenfold, highlighting the need for better management.
For agent management, Microsoft plans to make Agent 365 generally available starting May 1, priced at $15 per month. The company drew parallels between A365 and existing people management tools in terms of observability, governance, management and security.
“In just two months, tens of millions of agents have appeared on the Agent 365 Registry,” Microsoft Chief Business Officer Judson Althoff wrote of the platform’s preview customers.
And as for that rumored E7 plan? Well, it comes with that exact naming structure and will cost $99 per user, which is cheaper than bundling each element separately. The E7 plan, as previously speculated, includes M365 E5, M365 Copilot and A365, all in one billing subscription.
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