Microsoft 365: AI assistant becomes mandatory

Microsoft is getting serious about its AI offensive: Starting in October, the company will automatically install its Copilot assistant on all workstations. This optional add-on will become standard equipment for millions of users worldwide.

This move marks a turning point in Microsoft's AI strategy. What began as a simple assistant is evolving into a system of specialized "agents" designed to take over complex work processes. The era of the digital colleague is dawning—whether companies like it or not.

From help to autonomous system

Microsoft is massively upgrading its Copilot. Instead of a universal assistant, the company is relying on "agent constellations" for specific tasks. Two new specialists are already available: The Researcher agent analyzes both public data and internal company documents for detailed reports. The Analyst agent evaluates complex data sets and Excel spreadsheets – without requiring users to write formulas.

These agents work largely independently. They take over entire workflows, implement goals, and automate routine tasks. Microsoft is planning additional specialists: A facilitator agent for Teams takes notes and summarizes meetings, and an interpreter agent translates in real time.

The difference is fundamental: instead of just reacting to commands, these AI systems act proactively and solve problems independently.

Tailor-made AI employees

Every company works differently – and Microsoft knows this too. With Copilot Studio, companies can develop their own AI agents. The platform works with natural language and visual design elements, requiring no programming knowledge.

Companies can connect their agents to internal data sources, from SharePoint to SAP systems. For example, an agent could answer HR questions based on internal policies or manage inventory levels.

These customization options make each Copilot unique. Microsoft emphasizes that customer data remains secure and is not incorporated into the base models. The goal is clear: Copilot is to become a platform for customized business processes.

Intelligence for all Office programs

At the same time, Microsoft is expanding the core functionality across all Microsoft 365 applications. In Teams, Copilot will now not only aggregate conversations but also shared content such as PowerPoint presentations or web pages. PowerPoint will be getting a "Narrative Builder" that creates complete presentations with templates and animations from documents.

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Outlook simplifies scheduling and automatically creates agendas based on meeting goals. Excel is enhanced with Python integration, allowing Copilot to perform complex data analyses directly in spreadsheets.

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These incremental improvements complement the agent strategy and make AI support more contextual and powerful across the productivity ecosystem.

Billion-dollar investment for AI future

Microsoft is underpinning its AI ambitions with massive investments. €26.5 billion will flow into the UK alone for AI and cloud data centers by 2028. The plan is to build Europe's largest supercomputer with over 23,000 NVIDIA graphics processors.

The strategy is paying off: Microsoft's Intelligent Cloud division recently grew by 31 percent. The AI ​​business already generates annual revenue of €11.5 billion. Analysts remain optimistic and view AI as a long-term growth driver.

The first digital employee

Microsoft executive Jared Spataro outlines a world of work in which humans orchestrate teams of AI agents. Knowledge work becomes a leadership task, and intelligence becomes a readily available resource, like electricity.

Spataro advises companies to experiment now and "hire their first digital employee." This requires more than just a new tool—it requires a rethinking of the onboarding, training, and management of AI systems.

With automatic installation in a few weeks, millions of users will have to take their first steps into this new world of work—whether they want to or not.