Microsoft unveils suite of new AI agents for Dynamics 365

Microsoft has introduced new capabilities to create autonomous agents in Copilot Studio and announced ten new agents for Dynamics 365.

Speaking at the London stop of Microsoft's AI Tour, Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO, stated, "With Copilot as your AI assistant, agents are the new apps for an AI-powered world. Copilot Studio enables you to easily create, manage, and connect agents to Copilot."

The announcement highlighted several new autonomous agents, such as the Sales Qualification Agent, which assists sellers by researching leads and helping prioritise opportunities, and the Supplier Communications Agent, designed to optimise supply chain operations by tracking supplier performance.

Also included are the Customer Intent and Customer Knowledge Management Agents, which work to resolve customer issues and manage knowledge bases to enhance customer service practices.

According to Microsoft, 60% of Fortune 500 companies utilise Microsoft 365 Copilot, contributing to significant savings and productivity gains. For instance, Lumen Technologies projects savings of $50 million annually, while Honeywell and Finastra have reported substantial productivity improvements.

Microsoft's new agentic capabilities aim to accelerate these outcomes by embedding AI-first business processes across organisations. The suite of new agents in Dynamics 365 is designed to enhance team capability in areas like sales, service, finance, and supply chain, with further additions planned for the upcoming year.

As outlined by Microsoft, "Copilot is your AI assistant - it works for you - and Copilot Studio enables you to easily create, manage, and connect agents to Copilot. Think of agents as the new apps for an AI-powered world. Every organisation will have a constellation of agents - ranging from simple prompt-and-response to fully autonomous."

These agents are supported by extensive data governance measures and adhere to Microsoft's core security, privacy, and responsible AI commitments.

Priyanka Gupte, an Account Manager, wrote in the announcement, "Empowering more customers to build autonomous agents in Copilot Studio... Next month, these capabilities are shifting from private to public preview, allowing more customers to reimagine critical business processes with AI."

Microsoft has already seen a successful internal implementation of Copilot and agents, achieving higher revenue per seller, increased deal closures, and improvements in customer service efficiency.

Companies like Clifford Chance, McKinsey & Company, Pets at Home, and Thomson Reuters have also started developing autonomous agents tailored to their specific needs. For instance, Pets at Home developed an agent for profit protection, potentially realising significant savings, while McKinsey & Company's agent speeds up client onboarding by reducing lead time significantly.

In terms of security, the agents built in Copilot Studio feature guardrails and controls defined by makers' instructions. Data sources connected to these agents are secured through systemic measures to prevent data loss and ensure robust authentication protocols.

With these advancements, Microsoft continues to leverage AI technology to transform business processes, promising to enhance productivity and efficiency for organisations globally.